Pay Stub Calculator

A pay stub calculator turns pay details into the numbers on a paycheck: gross pay, each tax, each deduction and net pay. Ours runs inside the pay stub generator. As you type, the live preview recalculates the whole stub, so you can check every figure before you download anything.

How a paycheck is calculated

1. Gross pay. Hours times the hourly rate, or the salary divided by the number of pay periods, plus overtime, bonuses, commissions and tips.
2. Pre-tax deductions. 401(k) and similar plans reduce wages for federal income tax. Section 125 health plans also reduce wages for Social Security and Medicare.
3. Federal income tax. The IRS percentage method in Publication 15-T annualizes the period's taxable wages, applies the Form W-4 adjustments and the tax brackets, and divides back to the pay period.
4. Social Security and Medicare. 6.2% of Social Security wages up to the year's wage base, and 1.45% of Medicare wages, plus 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on wages over $200,000 in the year.
5. State and local tax. Calculated for California and New York; entered from your records elsewhere.
6. After-tax deductions and reimbursements. Roth contributions or dues come out after tax; non-taxable reimbursements are added back.
7. Net pay. What is deposited. The stub also carries year-to-date totals for every line.

A worked example (2026)

Single filer, 2026 Form W-4 with no adjustments, Texas, paid every two weeks at $25.00 an hour, with a $100.00 401(k) contribution and a $45.00 Section 125 medical premium.

Line	Calculation	Amount
Regular pay	80.00 hours × $25.00	$2,000.00
Overtime	4.00 hours × $37.50	$150.00
Gross pay		$2,150.00
Pre-tax deductions	401(k) $100.00 + medical $45.00	−$145.00
Federal income tax	Pub 15-T on $2,005.00 of taxable wages	−$156.75
Social Security	6.2% of $2,105.00	−$130.51
Medicare	1.45% of $2,105.00	−$30.52
State income tax	Texas has none	$0.00
Net pay		$1,687.22

Federal taxable wages exclude both deductions ($2,150.00 − $145.00), while Social Security and Medicare wages exclude only the Section 125 premium ($2,150.00 − $45.00). These are the same figures the generator prints on the finished stub.

From numbers to a finished pay stub

When the numbers are right, choose one of eight professional templates and download the PDF right away. Every stub includes a free direct deposit slip, year-to-date totals and the taxable wage bases. Pricing is the same per order whatever template you choose: one stub is $6.99, and the per-stub price drops as you add more. The preview shows every number before you pay.