Pay Stub Generator for
United States

US payslips must show federal income tax withholding, Social Security tax (6.2% of wages up to the annual limit), and Medicare tax (1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on wages above $200,000). Most states also require state income tax withholding to be displayed.

The most common pay frequency in the US is bi-weekly (every two weeks), used by about 43% of employers. Semi-monthly (twice per month) and weekly cycles are also common. Pay frequency requirements vary by state.

There is no federal law requiring pay stubs, but the majority of states have laws mandating that employers provide written or electronic pay statements each pay period. These must typically include gross wages, deductions, net pay, and the pay period dates.

You can create pay stubs using payroll software, an online pay stub generator, or by working with a payroll service provider. Each pay stub should include the employee's name and address, employer details, pay period dates, gross wages, itemized deductions, and net pay. Keeping accurate records is important for both federal and state compliance.

There is no single federal law requiring pay stubs, but most states have their own pay stub laws. Around 40 states require employers to provide written or printed pay statements, while some allow electronic delivery. States like California and New York have strict requirements detailing exactly what information must appear.

FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act and refers to the combined Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) taxes withheld from employee wages. Employers match these contributions dollar for dollar. High earners also pay an Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% on wages above $200,000, which is not matched by the employer.

Independent contractors classified as 1099 workers are not employees, so employers are not legally required to provide them with pay stubs. However, contractors can generate their own pay stubs for income verification purposes, such as applying for a loan or renting an apartment. If a worker is genuinely self-employed, they are responsible for paying self-employment tax (covering both FICA components).

Pay stubs should be issued each time employees are paid, whether that is weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly. Most state pay stub laws require a statement for every pay period. Keeping a consistent schedule and retaining payroll records for at least three to four years is recommended for compliance with the FLSA and IRS requirements.