Free Pay Stub Generator
Make a pay stub, also called a check stub: enter your details, check the live preview, and download a clean PDF. No signup, no watermark.
- 1Enter details
- 2Review preview
- 3Download PDF
How do I make a pay stub?
Fill in the form above in five steps. The preview updates as you type, and the PDF is made on your device.
- Choose the pay stub type. Hourly, salaried, or a 1099 earnings statement for contractors.
- Add company and employee details. Only the last 4 digits of an SSN are ever shown.
- Enter earnings. Hours and rate, salary, or the contract payment, plus any bonus or tips.
- Check taxes and deductions. Use automatic estimates or enter the exact amounts from payroll.
- Download. Confirm the figures are real and download a clean PDF with no watermark.
What is a pay stub, and what does it show?
A pay stub, also called a check stub or earnings statement, is the record an employer gives with each paycheck. It shows how gross pay became net pay for that pay period.
It lists gross pay for the period, each tax withheld (federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state and local tax), deductions such as 401(k) or health insurance, and net pay. Year-to-date (YTD) columns show the running totals since January 1. Our annotated examples walk through each line, and the guide on how to make a check stub shows the order to calculate them in by hand.

How do hourly, salaried and 1099 stubs differ?
Hourly employees get a Regular pay line with hours and rate, plus an Overtime line at 1.5 times the rate when overtime hours are entered. Salaried employees get a Salary line equal to the annual salary divided by the pay periods in the year: 52 weekly, 26 biweekly, 24 semimonthly or 12 monthly. 1099 contractors get an earnings statement with no withholding; read more on the 1099 pay stub generator page.
Which layouts and colors can I choose?
Choose Classic (stacked tables with a summary bar), Horizontal (a short landscape-style earnings statement) or Long with deposit advice (a non-negotiable advice slip above the stub), each in Plum, Blue, Green, Navy or Black and white. Preview all three on the pay stub templates page.
Does the generator calculate state tax?
Select the work state in the form. States with published withholding tables in our engine are calculated automatically; for the others, enter the state withholding rate that applies. States with no income tax on wages show a zero state line.
Where do the tax figures come from?
Automatic mode reads the 2026 figures from versioned data files reviewed by M. Humza, last checked September 24, 2026. The federal figures rest on these official sources; how we calculate lists every state table too.
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
- SSA Contribution and Benefit Base
- IRS Topic 751, Social Security and Medicare withholding rates