What is a pay stub?

A pay stub is the part of a paycheck, or sometimes a separate document, that lists details about the employee's pay. These details include things like general information for the employee like name, address, and social security number. The paystub also should include the pay period.

There are other elements that are often included on pay stubs, although the exact details may vary from business to business. Typically, they include gross wages, which are the pre-tax dollars earned. It also should include net pay, which is the amount of money the employer takes home after all deductions are made.