Guide

How to read your payslip.

Your payslip contains critical information about your earnings, deductions, and contributions. Here is what every section means.

The universal structure of a payslip

Regardless of country, most payslips follow the same basic structure: gross salary at the top, a series of deductions in the middle (social contributions, taxes, pension), and net pay at the bottom. The specific lines vary by country, but the logic is always the same: your employer calculates everything, deducts it, and pays you what remains.

Understanding deductions

Deductions fall into three main categories:

Social contributionsFund healthcare, pensions, unemployment, disability. Mandatory everywhere.

Income taxWithheld at source in most countries. Based on income brackets and personal situation.

Voluntary deductionsPension top-ups, health insurance upgrades, charitable giving, union dues.

Country-specific guides

Each country has its own payslip format with unique deduction lines. Use our interactive simulators to see exactly what each line means:

🇫🇷 France payslip 🇺🇸 USA pay stub 🇬🇧 UK payslip 🇩🇪 Germany Gehaltsabrechnung 🇪🇸 Spain nomina 🇯🇵 Japan payslip

Each simulator lets you enter a salary and see the complete breakdown with explanations for every deduction line.

Common questions

Why is my net pay so much lower than my gross? Because social contributions (pension, healthcare, unemployment) typically take 10-25% before tax is even calculated. Then income tax takes another 10-30%. In countries like Belgium or France, total deductions can reach 40-50% of gross.

Should I keep my payslips? Yes. Keep them for at least 5 years. You may need them for tax disputes, loan applications, pension claims, or proof of employment.