Reviewed by the PayStubPro Payroll Standards Team
Quick answer
A paycheck is the actual payment of wages — whether a physical check or a direct deposit. A pay stub is the accompanying document that itemizes gross pay, deductions and net pay for that payment.
How they relate
With direct deposit, there may be no paper check. A pay stub or electronic earnings statement explains the payroll calculation. Net pay can be delivered through one deposit or split across accounts; compare the statement with all related payments.
One payment, two different records
A fictional payroll record shows $1,000 gross earnings, $150 taxes and $50 other employee deductions. Net pay is $800. The pay stub explains that calculation; the paycheck or direct deposit delivers the $800. Creating or downloading a pay stub does not transfer wages or turn the document into a negotiable check.
Why one deposit may be smaller than net pay
If an employer supports split direct deposit, that $800 might be sent as $600 to checking and $200 to savings. Compare the combined payroll deposits with the payment allocation on the statement, rather than expecting each deposit to equal net pay. The CFPB explains employer-supported split direct deposit.
Which document should you check?
Use the pay stub to review hours, earnings, taxes, deductions and year-to-date totals. Use the bank transaction or payment record to confirm the amount received. A statement describes payroll; it does not by itself prove that a transfer has cleared.
Match the employer, pay date and pay period first. If gross earnings are wrong, review hours and rates with payroll. If net pay or deposits differ, check deductions and payment allocations before requesting a correction from the issuer. Read how to read a pay stub for the individual fields. Examples reviewed October 16, 2026; figures are fictional.
Ready to create your pay stub?
Use the PayStubPro pay stub generator and follow the guided, step-by-step process.