A paystub follows a consistent structure regardless of employer: earnings at the top, deductions in the middle, and your actual take-home amount at the bottom — understanding each section is the difference between just glancing at the deposit number and actually knowing where your money went. * Gross pay is the starting point: your total earnings for the pay period before a single deduction gets taken out. This includes your regular wages, plus anything extra earned that period — overtime, bonuses, or commissions all get folded into gross pay at the top of the stub. * The deductions section splits into two categories that work very differently. Mandatory deductions are required by law and you have no ability to opt out — federal and state income tax withholding, along with FICA taxes (Social Security at 6.2% and Medicare at 1.45% of your gross pay) fall into this category. Voluntary deductions are ones you actively chose — health insurance premiums, retirement plan contributions, and similar benefits you elected during enrollment. * Net pay sits at the bottom, sometimes labeled "take-home pay" instead, and it's simply gross pay minus every deduction listed above it. This is the number that should match exactly what actually lands in your bank account or shows up on your physical paycheck. * Checking your paystub periodically against your actual bank deposit is worth doing, not just out of curiosity — a mismatch between the two, or an unexpected new deduction appearing without explanation, is often the first visible sign of a payroll error or, in rare cases, unauthorized access to your account information.