How to read a U.S. paycheck stub
A plain-English walkthrough of gross pay, federal income tax, FICA, state tax, and net pay on a U.S. stub—then run the same numbers in the paycheck calculator.
Start with gross, not the deposit
The deposit is net pay. The stub starts higher: hourly rate × hours, or salary ÷ pay periods, plus overtime, bonuses, and taxable benefits. If you only look at what hit the bank, you will understate tax and overstate how cheap a raise was.
KindCalc’s paycheck calculator asks for gross for this reason. Match the “gross earnings” line, not the leftover.
Federal income tax is not FICA
Federal income tax uses filing status, the 2026 brackets, and the standard deduction in a simple model. FICA is separate: Social Security wage tax and Medicare. People lump them as “taxes” and then wonder why a calculator disagrees with payroll.
On the stub, look for FIT or federal income tax in one bucket and Social Security / Medicare in another. Pre-tax 401(k) usually lowers FIT, not FICA, on a traditional deferral.
State tax is a third line
Nine states levy no wage income tax. The rest do, and a few add local tax this page does not invent. A Texas stub and a California stub with the same gross are not the same net. Use the state page that matches the box on the stub.
If you live in one state and work in another, reciprocity and withholding can diverge from an annual estimate. The calculator is a planning number, not a substitute for the W-4 your employer actually uses.
What the KindCalc estimate leaves off
Health premiums, HSA, commuter benefits, garnishments, and city tax. If those are large, net on the stub will be lower than the calculator. That is expected, not a bug.
When the two numbers are close on FIT + FICA + state, you have read the stub correctly. Then you can change hours or a raise in the calculator without waiting for the next payday.
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