Pay stubs look intimidating because they mix accounting codes with tax abbreviations. Once you know the three headline numbers — gross, deductions, and net — the rest is detail you can look up as needed.
The three numbers that matter
- Gross pay — what you earned before anything was taken out
- Deductions — taxes, insurance, retirement, and other withholdings
- Net pay — what actually lands in your bank
Quick check
Net pay should be gross minus total deductions for that period.
Year-to-date (YTD) columns
YTD totals help you track how much tax has been withheld so far and whether you are on pace for a refund or a bill at filing time. Compare YTD gross to your expected annual income to spot errors early.