Compliance guide
Itemized pay stub requirements
California Labor Code §226(a) requires a wage statement with specific line items on it every pay period — a generic summary total isn't enough.
The required line items
- Gross wages earned, and total hours worked.
- All applicable pay rates and the hours worked at each rate during the pay period.
- Every deduction, itemized by category, amount, and the date it was taken.
- Net wages earned.
- The pay period's start and end dates, and the pay date.
- The employee's name, and the last four digits of their Social Security number only — never the full number.
- The legal name and address of the employer, including any DBA in use.
What else belongs on the stub
The Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act separately requires an employee's available paid sick leave balance to be shown on the wage statement — how much is available, how much accrued this period, and how much was used.
This page is for general informational purposes and reflects our understanding of California law as of this writing — it isn't legal advice. Labor law changes and specific situations vary; consult an employment attorney for guidance for your business.