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Pay stubs are full of cryptic codes. Here's a plain-English cheat sheet for the abbreviations you're most likely to see on a US paycheck.
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Gross | Total earnings before deductions |
| Net | Take-home pay after all deductions |
| YTD | Year-to-date running total |
| FICA | Social Security + Medicare payroll tax |
| SS / OASDI | Social Security tax (6.2%) |
| MED / Medicare | Medicare tax (1.45%) |
| FED / FIT / FWT | Federal income tax withholding |
| SIT / ST | State income tax withholding |
| FUTA / SUTA | Federal / state unemployment tax (employer) |
| 401(k) | Retirement plan contribution (pre-tax) |
| HSA / FSA | Health / flexible spending account |
| PTO | Paid time off |
| OT | Overtime pay (usually 1.5×) |
| Reg | Regular hours/pay |
| EE / ER | Employee / employer portion |
| Chk / Chk No | Check number |
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