What's on a pay stub
Pay stubs vary a lot. The U.S. Department of Labor says the Fair Labor Standards Act "does not require an employer to provide employees pay stubs" (DOL), so what's printed depends on your employer, its payroll provider and state law. A stub may show some of the details the DOL says employers must keep in their payroll records, such as your name, Social Security number, address, hours worked, rate of pay, earnings, deductions, total wages and the pay date and pay period (DOL).
Which fields to cover on a pay stub
Ask the recipient what they need first.
| Field on the stub | Usually safe to cover? | Keep it visible when |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security number (full or last 4) | Yes | The recipient explicitly asks for it |
| Bank name, routing and account number for direct deposit | Yes | Rarely needed |
| Employee ID or payroll number | Usually | The recipient needs to verify with your employer |
| Home address | Sometimes | The stub also serves as proof of address |
| Deductions such as garnishments, child support, medical plan, retirement contributions | Sometimes | The recipient asks for a complete stub, or needs net pay explained |
| Rate of pay and hours | Rarely | Usually part of what proves income |
| Gross pay, net pay, pay period and pay date | No | This is normally the point of sending a stub |
| Year-to-date totals | Rarely | Usually needed for annual income checks |
| Employer name and address | No | Needed to show who pays you |
Check every page, including headers and footers.
What we found when we tested it
We made a 1-page sample earnings statement with made-up details: name, address, employee ID, a masked SSN (XXX-XX-6789), rate, hours, seven deductions including a child support garnishment, net pay, a direct deposit line with a routing number and an account ending 4417, and year-to-date totals. We tested the live tool on October 22, 2026 (PT) in Google Chrome 155 on Linux, and again in Chrome's iPhone 13 device emulation with touch input (not a real iPhone).
| Check | Result |
|---|---|
| Free search for "4417" and for the routing number | Each found 1 match, highlighted in yellow |
| Boxes drawn | 3: the SSN line, the garnishment line and the direct deposit line |
| Automatic check after export | All six checks passed: output re-opened with pdf.js, text layer removed, search test passed, metadata stripped, whole file scanned, no hidden content |
| Text left in the file | None. The redacted page is now an image, so every word on it, not just the covered ones, is no longer selectable |
| File size | 2,117 bytes in, 92,658 bytes out (94,535 bytes in iPhone emulation); the original wasn't changed |
How to redact a pay stub in 4 steps
- Download the stub as a PDF from your payroll portal and work on a copy. If you only have a paper stub, scan it to PDF first.
- Open it in InkOut PDF. Click Choose PDF above. The file stays in your browser and you don't need an account.
- Draw a box over each field to hide. Use the free search to find every place a number appears, such as the last 4 digits of your bank account, then draw a box over each highlighted match. Redacting all matches in one click is a Pro feature. Scanned stubs have no text to search, so draw boxes by hand.
- Export and check. Click Apply redaction(s), read the automatic check, then click Download redacted PDF. Search the downloaded file for the digits you covered; nothing should be found.
Things to know
- Free: up to 5 pages per file, with boxes you draw. Unlimited pages, several files and redacting every search match at once are part of Pro.
- Black boxes only. The box is always black.
- Pages you redact become images. Text on those pages can't be selected or searched afterwards, and the file gets bigger. Pages without boxes keep their text.
- No OCR. Search only finds text that's really in the PDF. On a scan or a photo, draw the boxes by hand.
- A redacted stub may not be accepted. Some lenders and agencies require an unedited copy, or verify income directly with your employer. Ask first.
Related guides
- Redact a PDF in your browser
- Redact a W-2 PDF
- Redact a bank statement PDF
- Check a redacted PDF
- Black out text in a PDF
FAQ
What should I black out on a pay stub?
Usually your Social Security number, the bank account and routing number used for direct deposit, and deductions the recipient doesn't need. Keep the employer, pay dates, gross and net pay visible if the stub is proof of income.
Is it OK to send a redacted pay stub to a landlord?
Many recipients only need to see who pays you and how much, but some want a complete copy. The black boxes are visible, so ask the landlord first whether a redacted stub is acceptable.
My pay stub already shows only the last 4 digits of my SSN. Should I still cover them?
That's up to you. If the recipient doesn't need them, cover the last 4 digits too.
Can I redact a pay stub on my phone?
Yes, in your phone's browser. We tested drawing boxes with touch input in iPhone emulation and the export passed all checks, but we haven't tested on a real iPhone.
Is it free?
Stubs up to 5 pages with boxes you draw are free. Unlimited pages, keyword redaction and multiple files are part of Pro.
Sources (checked 2026-10-22)
- U.S. Department of Labor, elaws FLSA Advisor FAQ, pay stubs: https://webapps.dol.gov/elaws/faq/esa/flsa/018.htm
- U.S. Department of Labor, "Recordkeeping" (payroll records employers must keep): https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/wages/wagesrecordkeeping
- InkOut PDF live tool, tested 2026-10-22 with a synthetic pay stub: https://inkoutpdf.com/