Pay Stub Calculator
Estimate what a pay stub for your job should show: gross pay, each tax withheld, deductions and net pay. Enter your pay, state and deductions and compare the result with your real stub.
How to Use the Pay Stub Calculator
- Enter your pay and pay frequency.
- Choose your state and filing status.
- Add 401(k), health and HSA amounts under More options.
- Compare each line with your pay stub.
What This Pay Stub Calculator Shows
It estimates the lines on a typical pay stub: gross pay, federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state income tax and state programs, pre-tax deductions such as a 401(k), and net pay. It is an estimate for planning and checking, not an official document, and it cannot replace the statement your employer provides.
Pay Stub Lines and Where They Come From
| Pay stub line | How this calculator figures it |
|---|---|
| Gross pay | Salary divided by pay periods, or hourly rate x hours |
| Federal income tax | IRS percentage method with the standard deduction |
| Social Security | 6.2% up to the $184,500 wage base |
| Medicare | 1.45%, plus 0.9% above $200,000 |
| State tax | State rates and standard deduction |
| Pre-tax deductions | The 401(k), health and HSA amounts you enter |
| Net pay | Gross pay minus taxes and deductions |
How to Compare the Estimate With Your Real Pay Stub
- Enter the same gross pay and pay frequency shown on the stub.
- Add your 401(k), health insurance and HSA amounts.
- Compare each tax line. A few dollars of difference is normal.
- If Social Security or Medicare differ by more than rounding, ask payroll.
For a line-by-line explanation, see how to read a pay stub.
Do Not Use a Calculator to Make an Official Pay Stub
Employers must provide accurate pay records. A calculator estimate is not proof of income for a loan, lease or agency. Ask your employer or payroll provider for an official statement.
Year-To-Date Totals
A pay stub also lists year-to-date (YTD) amounts. To estimate YTD after a number of paychecks, multiply a single paycheck by the number of pay periods so far, keeping in mind that Social Security stops at the wage base.
Example Scenarios
A biweekly worker earning $70,000 in New York sees federal tax, Social Security, Medicare, NY income tax and NY disability and paid family leave lines. Compare it with your own stub.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate a pay stub?
Start with gross pay, subtract pre-tax deductions, then federal, state and payroll taxes and after-tax deductions. The result is net pay.
Can I use this to create a pay stub?
It gives estimates for checking your paycheck. It does not create official pay stubs, which your employer or payroll provider issues.
What is on a pay stub?
Pay period, gross pay, taxes, deductions, net pay and year-to-date totals. See how to read a pay stub.
Why is my pay stub different from the estimate?
Benefits, local taxes, W-4 choices, garnishments or a bonus can change the real stub.
Can this pay stub calculator match my employer's numbers?
It gets close for standard cases. Employers may use different withholding tables, local taxes or benefit codes, so treat the difference as a prompt to ask payroll.
Is this a pay stub generator?
No. It estimates the amounts on a pay stub. Official pay stubs come from your employer or payroll provider.
How these numbers are figured: 2026 IRS withholding rules (Publication 15-T) and state figures last verified September 2026. Results are estimates. Read the full methodology and sources.
Related Calculators and Guides
Want a state-specific result? Try California, Texas, New York, Florida.
or see all state calculators.