Decoding Paycheck Stub Abbreviations: ADP Terminology Guide

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Your paycheck stub is packed with abbreviations, like FWT, MED, YTD, or SUI. However, none of them come with a key.

If you use a provider like ADP, these codes can get even more cryptic. But each one tells you something important about your pay, deductions, and taxes.

In this guide, I’ll break down the most common paycheck stub abbreviations, show you what they mean, and help you read your pay stub without second guessing.

What Are Paycheck Stub Abbreviations?

Abbreviations on your pay stub are shorthand for earnings, taxes, and deductions. They’re meant to save space, but they often confuse people.

For example:

Abbreviation	Meaning
FWT	Federal Withholding Tax
SUI	State Unemployment Insurance
FICA-MED	Medicare portion of FICA
YTD	Year-to-Date totals

If your employer uses ADP, Paychex, or another payroll provider, the abbreviations may vary slightly, but the main categories remain the same.

Knowing these codes helps you:

⦿ Understand where your money is going

⦿ Catch errors in deductions

⦿ Plan and budget better

Key Paycheck Abbreviations You Should Know

These are the codes you’ll almost always see on a pay stub:

Abbreviation	Meaning
GRS or GRS WAGES	Gross Wages: Total pay before deductions
FWT	Federal Withholding Tax
SWT or SIT	State Withholding Tax
FICA-SS	Social Security tax (6.2%)
FICA-MED	Medicare tax (1.45%)
FICA EE/ER	Employee/Employer portion of FICA taxes
MED or MEDI	Medicare deduction (may be shown separately)
YTD	Year-to-Date totals for earnings and deductions

Example:

If your pay stub says:

FWT: $300 | YTD FWT: $4,200

It means $300 was withheld this period, and $4,200 has been withheld so far this year.

Other Common Abbreviations You Might See

These may or may not appear depending on your job, state, or benefits package:

Abbreviation	Meaning
SUI	State Unemployment Insurance
SDI	State Disability Insurance (e.g., CA, NY, NJ)
401K / RET / DCR	Retirement Plan Contributions
HSA / FSA	Health Savings Account / Flexible Spending Account
INS PRE / MED INS	Insurance Premiums (Medical, Dental, etc.)
BON / OT	Bonus / Overtime Pay
VAC / PTO / SICK	Paid Time Off, Vacation, Sick Leave
CTC	Cost to Company (total compensation package)
PER DIEM	Daily travel or meal allowance
DEP BEN	Dependent Benefits (insurance for spouse/children)
WRK COMP	Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Real Example: What It Looks Like on a Pay Stub

Here’s a mock example of a pay stub line shown in a table:

Description	Current	YTD
GRS WAGES	$2,000	$20,000
FWT	$250	$3,200
SIT (CA)	$60	$720
FICA-SS	$124	$1,488
FICA-MED	$29	$348
401K	$100	$1,200
INS PRE (MED)	$80	$960
NET PAY	$1,357	$12,084

This format makes it easier to understand what you’re earning, what’s being deducted, and how it’s tracked over time.

Confused by MISC?

Abbreviation	Meaning
MISC	Miscellaneous deductions (e.g. dues, donations, fees)

MISC is a catch-all category. It might include:

⦿ Union dues

⦿ Uniform fees

⦿ Parking costs

⦿ Commuter benefits

⦿ Charitable contributions

If you’re not sure what something is, ask HR or payroll. Don’t guess.

Abbreviations for Pre-Tax vs. Post-Tax Deductions

Knowing whether a deduction is pre-tax or post-tax helps you understand how it affects your take-home pay.

Abbreviation	Tax Type	Common Use
401K	Pre-tax	Retirement savings
HSA	Pre-tax	Health Savings Account
FSA	Pre-tax	Dependent care, medical spending
INS PRE	Pre-tax	Health, dental, vision insurance premiums
GARN	Post-tax	Wage garnishment
MISC	Post-tax	Miscellaneous deductions

Pre-tax deductions lower your taxable income. Post-tax deductions come out after taxes are calculated.

How to Read Abbreviations on ADP Pay Stubs

ADP, one of the most common payroll providers, often uses specific abbreviations. Here’s a quick cheat sheet:

Abbreviation	Meaning
REG	Regular hours/pay
OT	Overtime
HOL	Holiday pay
VAC	Vacation
SICK	Sick pay
EARN	Total earnings
DEDN	Total deductions
NET	Net pay (your actual paycheck)

If you use ADP’s online portal, hover over or click on codes to see full descriptions.

Why This Is Important

They:

It Helps You Budget Smarter

Once you get what those little codes mean, you know exactly how much money’s really hitting your account.

That makes it way easier to plan your spending, keep up with bills, and avoid that “where did my paycheck go?” feeling.

It Makes Tax Time Less Painful

Tax season isn’t fun for anyone.

But if you know what’s coming out of your paycheck and why, it’s a lot less stressful. You’re not guessing. You’re not scrambling. Just one less headache to deal with in April.

You Can Double-Check Your Pay

Payroll mistakes happen more than you’d think.

But if you know how to read your stub, you can spot them fast. Maybe it’s missing hours. Maybe a deduction looks off. Or maybe you didn’t get paid for overtime.

Either way, you’ll catch it early.

You’ll Know What Benefits You’re Using

Your pay stub shows if you’re actually enrolled in things like health insurance or a 401(k). The abbreviations tell you exactly what’s being deducted and what it’s for.

That way, you know your benefits are in place and active.

It’s Even More Important if You’re Self-Employed

Freelancers, gig workers, and small business owners usually handle payroll themselves or review what clients send over. If you know the terms on a pay stub, it’s easier to spot mistakes and keep everything accurate.

It saves time and avoids confusion later.