Pay Stub Template

Looking for a reliable way to generate professional pay stubs for your U.S. employees? Our free pay stub template is built for founders, HR teams, and payroll managers who need compliant, easy-to-use payroll documentation.

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WHY GROWING TEAMS LOVE THIS TEMPLATE

Standardizes pay records with a consistent format so every employee receives the same clear, compliant documentation.

Reduces the chance of errors by laying out every required field clearly, so it’s easier to catch mistakes before finalizing payroll.

Eliminates the need to design documents from scratch each time you pay your team members with its ready-to-use format.

Pay Stub Template Overview

Our template takes care of the structure so you can focus on accuracy and clarity. It’s fully editable, so you can adapt it to your state tax rates and company’s payroll rules.

How it helps:

  • Time Efficiency: Provides a ready-made framework so you don’t have to design pay stubs from scratch.
  • Error Prevention: Standardized fields make it easier to record pay details consistently and spot missing information.
  • Flexible Calculations: Supports entry of gross pay, deductions, and net pay across different tax jurisdictions.
  • Customizable Design: Editable fields let you adapt the template to match your company’s payroll policies or branding.
  • Flexible Use Cases: Works across pay structures, including hourly, salaried, and mixed compensation teams.

Who is This Template For?

This template is designed for employers and HR teams who need a simple, professional way to issue pay stubs to their full-time staff.

Whether you run payroll manually or use a basic system without built-in stubs, this template helps you stay compliant while giving employees the transparency they expect around their earnings and deductions. It’s ideal for:

  • Employers who want a cost-effective way to generate pay stubs
  • HR teams looking to standardize payroll documentation.
  • Small businesses without a dedicated payroll platform.
  • Growing companies that need a professional pay stub format for employee trust and compliance.

What's Included in the Pay Stub Template

  • Employer name, address, and tax ID fields
  • Employee name, address, and ID fields
  • Pay period and pay date
  • Hourly rate, overtime rate, and hours worked
  • Pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA, etc.), plus net pay and year-to-date (YTD) totals

How To Use This Pay Stub Template

Our template is designed to be simple and easy to use. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get started:

  1. Make a copy of the free pay stub template.
  2. Enter company and employee details in the designated fields.
  3. Fill in hours worked, pay rates, and any additional earnings like bonuses or commissions.
  4. Add deductions and applicable taxes.
  5. Save, print, or export to PDF for easy sharing with employees.

Pay Stub Template vs. Consolidated Payroll

While a pay stub template can be a helpful tool for getting payroll documentation right, it’s not the only option. Many teams eventually ask whether they should keep using a manual template or move to a managed payroll solution to consolidate payroll.

Using a manual pay stub template is a practical option if you’re running a small team, want a free solution, or simply need a professional-looking way to document wages. It gives you full control over inputs and flexibility to adapt fields to your local payroll rules. But as your team grows, managing payroll manually can become time-consuming and prone to error.

That’s where payroll and HR software like Playroll steps in. With Playroll, you don’t need to worry about manual calculations or updating tax tables, the platform automates compliance, integrates seamlessly with your existing systems, and keeps sensitive payroll data secure. It’s also highly cost-effective for scaling teams, saving hours of admin while reducing compliance risk.

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Playroll manages payroll end-to-end across markets, while unifying your global operations.

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about the author

Jaime Watkins

Jaime is a content specialist at Playroll, specializing in global HR trends and compliance. With a strong background in languages and writing, she turns complex employment issues into clear insights to help employers stay ahead of the curve in an ever-changing global workforce.

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Pay Stub FAQs

What is a pay stub template?

A pay stub template is a pre-formatted document you can use to record an employee’s earnings, deductions, and net pay for a pay period. Instead of creating a layout from scratch, this template gives you all the standard fields you need, like gross wages, taxes withheld, and year-to-date (YTD) totals, so you can issue professional, compliant pay stubs quickly.

How does this template compare to using payroll or HR software?

A pay stub template is a simple, lower-cost option that works well if you manage a small team, want more control over data entry, or need a stopgap solution. Payroll and HR software on the other hand can automate calculations and integrate with tax systems. The template won’t replace full compliance software, but it gives you a reliable structure to keep pay records consistent and transparent.

Can this pay stub template be customized?

Yes. The template is fully editable, so you can adapt it to match your company’s payroll policies, branding, or jurisdiction-specific requirements. You can add your logo, adjust the fields to reflect local tax rules, or modify it for hourly, salaried, or mixed pay structures.

Does this pay stub template work for both small and large teams?

Absolutely. Small teams use it for quick, low-cost payroll documentation, while larger teams use it to standardize how pay information is recorded across multiple employees or departments. Whether you’re paying one person or managing payroll for a growing workforce, the template scales with your needs.

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