Payslip, pay stub, earnings statement: one document
| Name | Where you will hear it |
|---|---|
| Payslip or pay slip | UK, Australia, India and much of Asia |
| Salary slip | India |
| Pay stub or check stub | Most of the US |
| Earnings statement | US payroll systems and HR |
| Wage statement | Some US state laws |
Each name means the record that goes with one pay period: what you earned, what was taken out, and what you received.
How to make a payslip for US pay
- Company details. The employer's name and address, and a logo if you want one in the header.
- Employee details. Name and address, with an employee number or the last four ID digits if you want them shown.
- Pay period and frequency. The period's start and end, the pay date, and weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly or monthly pay.
- Earnings. An hourly rate and hours, or a yearly salary. Overtime gets its own line.
- Taxes. Pick the US state and the filing status, and the tax lines fill in on the live preview.
- Download. Check every line, then pay and save the PDF.
What a US payslip shows
| Line | What it means |
|---|---|
| Gross pay | Everything earned in the period before deductions |
| Federal income tax | Withheld using the choices on the employee's Form W-4 |
| Social Security | 6.2% of wages for the employee, up to a yearly wage base |
| Medicare | 1.45% of all wages for the employee |
| State income tax | Set by each state; some states have none |
| Local tax | Some cities and counties take their own |
| Pre-tax deductions | Items such as 401(k) contributions or health premiums, when there are any |
| Net pay | What reaches the bank account |
| YTD totals | Running totals since January 1 |
Social Security and Medicare are often grouped on payslips as "FICA". Source: IRS Topic 751.
From a UK, Indian or Australian payslip to a US one
The ideas carry over, but the lines have different names and different rules. This is the nearest US line for items you may know. They are matches in purpose, not in how the tax works.
| Item you know | Where | Nearest US line |
|---|---|---|
| PAYE income tax | UK | Federal income tax withholding, plus state tax where the state has one |
| National Insurance | UK | Social Security and Medicare (FICA) |
| Tax code | UK | The choices on Form W-4 |
| P60 | UK | Form W-2, the yearly wage and tax statement |
| TDS on salary | India | Federal income tax withholding |
| Basic pay, HRA and allowances | India | Regular pay, with any extra pay on its own earnings line |
| EPF / PF | India | No required US match; a 401(k) line appears only if the worker joins a plan |
| Professional tax | India | No US match; some US cities and counties have a local tax instead |
| Superannuation | Australia | No required US match; a retirement plan line appears only if the worker joins one |
A US payslip will not show PAYE, National Insurance, PF or professional tax lines. Those belong to other countries' systems.
Who uses a payslip generator for US pay
- Small businesses and household employers paying staff without a payroll service.
- People new to the US whose landlord or lender asks for "pay stubs".
- Freelancers and contractors, using Contractor / 1099 mode, which shows pay with no tax withheld.
- Bookkeepers keeping a clear record of each payment for a client.
- Anyone who needs a one-off payslip for a single pay date.
Why a payslip matters in the US
- Proof of income for renting, a car loan or a mortgage.
- A check that the federal tax withheld fits your W-4 choices.
- A match for the W-2 you get after the year ends.
- A record of hours, rate and pay for both sides.
Do US employers have to give a payslip?
Not under federal law. The Fair Labor Standards Act requires employers to keep pay records but not to hand out statements; many states set their own payslip rules. Source: US Department of Labor, FLSA FAQ.
That is a real difference from the UK, where employers must give employees and workers a payslip showing pay before and after deductions. Source: GOV.UK, Payslips.
Picking a payslip template
Every design in the stub maker works as a payslip template, and each one costs the same. Choose a plain layout if the payslip goes to a bank or a landlord, since a clean page is quicker to read. Your details stay in place when you switch, so you can compare a few before you decide.
Need payslips for several months? The multi-stub builder makes one for each pay date, with the year-to-date totals running from one to the next.
Make a US payslip
Every payslip here is in US dollars with US tax lines, in any design at the same price.
What $3.49 includes
Federal, state and FICA taxes worked out, Current-year YTD totals, Regular and overtime pay lines, Every design at the base price, Your logo, Corrections and the PDF download. Optional add-ons: extra earnings & deduction lines $1.00/stub, tax & w-4 withholding edits $1.00/stub, time-off (pto) lines $1.00/stub, deposit slip $1.00/stub. All 4 together: $1.49 for 1 stub, $2.99 for 2, $0.99 each from 3.
FAQ
Is a payslip the same as a pay stub?
Yes. In the US the same document is usually called a pay stub, check stub or earnings statement.
Is there a payslip template I can use?
Yes. Pick any design in the stub maker; every one costs the same and your details stay when you switch.
What's FICA on my payslip?
Social Security and Medicare taxes. They come out of most US paychecks.
Can I make a payslip in another currency?
No. This tool makes US payslips in US dollars with US taxes.
Why is there no PAYE or PF line?
Those are UK and India items. US pay uses federal, state and FICA lines instead.
Can I add my company logo?
Yes. Upload it in the company details and it prints in the payslip header.
Do I need to install software or sign up?
No. It runs in your browser, and your account is made from the email you give at checkout.
Can I make payslips for several months?
Yes. Choose how many in the multi-stub builder; each payslip gets its own pay date and the YTD totals run forward.
How much does a payslip cost?
$3.49 for one payslip, and $2.99 each from three up. No subscription.