Pay Stub Codes Explained: Every Abbreviation on Your Earnings Statement

FIT, OASDI, MED EE, CASDI — your pay stub is full of cryptic codes. Here's a complete reference guide to every common abbreviation.

FIT, OASDI, MED EE, CASDI — your pay stub is full of cryptic codes. Here's a complete reference guide to every common abbreviation.

By ExpertPaystubs Editorial Team. Published 2026-02-22

If you've ever looked at your pay stub and wondered what "OASDI" or "MED EE" means, you're not alone. Payroll systems use dozens of abbreviations. Here's your complete decoder ring.

Earnings Codes

Code Full Name Meaning
REG Regular Standard pay (hourly rate × regular hours)
OT / OTP Overtime Pay Hours worked beyond 40/week at 1.5× rate
DT Double Time 2× rate (CA after 12hrs/day)
HOL Holiday Pay Pay for holidays worked or observed
VAC Vacation Paid vacation time used
SICK Sick Pay Paid sick leave used
PTO Paid Time Off Combined vacation/sick time
BONUS Bonus One-time or performance bonus
COMM Commission Sales-based compensation
TIPS Tips Reported tip income
JURY Jury Duty Pay during jury service
BER Bereavement Pay during bereavement leave
RETRO Retroactive Pay Adjustment for previous underpayment

Federal Tax Codes

Code Full Name What It Is
FIT / FWT Federal Income Tax / Federal Withholding Tax Based on W-4 + IRS Publication 15-T
OASDI Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Social Security (6.2%)
SS / FICA-SS Social Security Same as OASDI
MED / MED EE Medicare (Employee) 1.45% of all wages
ADDL MED Additional Medicare 0.9% on earnings over $200K
FICA Federal Insurance Contributions Act Combined SS + Medicare
EIC Earned Income Credit Advance EIC payment (rare)

State Tax Codes

Code Full Name States
SIT / SWT State Income Tax / State Withholding Tax Most states
CASDI / CA SDI California State Disability Insurance California (1.1%)
NYPFL New York Paid Family Leave New York (0.373%)
NJSUI New Jersey State Unemployment Insurance New Jersey
NJSDI New Jersey State Disability Insurance New Jersey
WAPFML Washington Paid Family Medical Leave Washington (0.58%)
ORPFL Oregon Paid Family Leave Oregon
COSUI Colorado State Unemployment Insurance Colorado

Benefit Deduction Codes

Code Full Name Pre/Post Tax
401K 401(k) Retirement Pre-tax
ROTH Roth 401(k) Post-tax
MED INS / HLTH Medical Insurance Pre-tax
DNTL Dental Insurance Pre-tax
VIS Vision Insurance Pre-tax
HSA Health Savings Account Pre-tax
FSA Flexible Spending Account Pre-tax
DCFSA Dependent Care FSA Pre-tax
LTD Long-Term Disability Varies
STD Short-Term Disability Varies
LIFE Life Insurance Post-tax (over $50K)
AD&D Accidental Death & Dismemberment Post-tax
TRANSIT Commuter Transit Pre-tax (up to $315/mo)
PARKING Commuter Parking Pre-tax (up to $315/mo)

Other Common Codes

Code Full Name Meaning
YTD Year-to-Date Cumulative total from Jan 1
MTD Month-to-Date Cumulative total for current month
QTD Quarter-to-Date Cumulative total for current quarter
DD Direct Deposit Net pay sent to bank
GARN Garnishment Court-ordered wage deduction
CS Child Support Court-ordered child support
LEVY Tax Levy IRS or state tax collection
UNION Union Dues Union membership fees
REPAY Repayment Payback for advance or overpayment
ER Employer Employer's portion (not deducted from you)
EE Employee Employee's portion (deducted from you)

Reading Your Pay Stub Like a Pro

When reviewing your pay stub, follow this checklist:

  1. Verify REG hours match your actual hours worked
  2. Check OT is calculated at 1.5× (or 2× in CA after 12hrs)
  3. Confirm FIT matches your W-4 expectations
  4. Verify SS stops at $184,500 YTD
  5. Check benefit deductions match your enrollment
  6. Compare NET to your bank deposit

Generate clear, well-labeled pay stubs →