Net vs Gross Pay — What’s The Difference?

Do you know how much of your paycheck you actually take home? Recent data shows that nearly 42% of employees are confused about their paycheck details. Knowing the difference between net and gross salary is critical for businesses and employees. That is why we have curated this dedicated blog on net vs. gross pay comparison. 

It impacts everything from budgeting to tax planning, and for businesses, it’s essential for payroll accuracy and compliance. Misunderstandings can lead to financial mismanagement or even employee dissatisfaction. Understanding these terms is not just a payroll issue—it’s a key to financial clarity for everyone involved. Also, you should be aware of the various payroll schedules, weekly, monthly, bi-weekly, and semi-monthly pay periods, to better grasp the topic. 

. This blog will help you get a better idea of this topic by covering: 

• What net pay is and how to find out your net earnings
• What gross pay actually is and how to calculate it, and finally
• The difference between net and gross pay. 

What Is Net Pay? 

Before delving into net vs gross pay comparison, let’s first try to understand what each term actually means and how to calculate it. Net pay or net salary refers to the amount of money an employee takes home after all deductions have been made from their gross pay or gross salary. While gross pay is the total earnings before any deductions, net pay is what remains after taxes, health insurance premiums, retirement contributions, and other withholdings are subtracted.

For example, if an employee’s gross salary is $24,000 per month, and deductions for taxes, social security, and health benefits add up to $4,000, the employee’s net pay will be $20,000. This is the actual amount deposited into their bank account.

Wendy Ha, the founder of the accounting firm AgileCPA Professional Corporation, helps us understand the significance of knowing our net salary: 

“The reason why there is a net pay is that there are different types of deductions that are taken off from the paycheck and remitted to different parties (i.e., government, unions…etc). At times, the government/unions rather have the business owner deduct these taxes/fees and remit to them directly, as opposed to each individual themselves.”

Components of A Net Pay

Now that you have a clear idea of what actually is net pay let’s take a look at its various components for a better understanding: 

• Taxes: Federal, state, and local taxes are deducted from employees’ gross wages. These taxes fund government programs like Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment insurance.

• Health Insurance: Many US employers offer health insurance plans, with premiums deducted from employees’ paychecks. The amount varies depending on the employee’s plan and whether it covers just the individual or the entire family.

• Retirement Savings: Contributions to retirement plans like a 401(k) are often pre-tax and automatically deducted. Some employers match a portion of these contributions, further benefiting the employee’s future financial security.

• Union Dues: Employees who are labor union members may have union dues taken out of their paychecks. These dues contribute to collective bargaining efforts and union benefits.

• Wage Garnishments: Court-ordered garnishments for debts, child support, or unpaid taxes may also reduce an employee’s gross pay.

• Other Deductions: Additional deductions, such as life insurance premiums, flexible spending accounts (FSAs), or transportation allowances, can further reduce gross salary, leaving employees with their final net pay.

How to Calculate Net Pay? 

The Net Pay is calculated by subtracting taxes and deductions from your gross pay. The formula involved is: 

Gross Pay – Taxes – Deductions = NET PAY

US employees generally observe two types of deductions in their paychecks: 

• Compulsory deductions, and 
• Voluntary deductions 

Compulsory (involuntary) deductions are made as per the law. For US employees, involuntary deductions include: 

• Deduction for US social security taxes. Civil Service retirement, Foreign Service retirement, Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB), and Federal Employees’ Group Basic Life Insurance (FEGLLI), 

• Withholding of local, state, and federal income taxes and 

• Court-ordered bankruptcy payments and garnishments. 

It must be pointed out here that garnishments are additional deductions that differ from one employee to another. They generally include credit card loans, student loans, and unpaid child support. 

On the other end of the spectrum, voluntary deductions are those that employees have the option to opt out of. For US employees, voluntary deductions include: 

• Savings plan 
• Retirement plan
• Optional life insurance 
• Dental Insurance 
• Long-term care program 
• Loan repayment, and 
• Other optional programs. 

We would like to point out here that some deductions are pre-tax, while others are deducted after taxes. Understanding the difference between these two types of deductions is extremely important. 

Pre-tax deductions apply to the total amount of your gross pay. These deductions include 401 (k) and certain health insurance premiums. Wondering what a 401(k) is? Well, it’s a savings cum retirement plan that employees contribute to from their wages. 

There are also post-tax deductions, which are deducted from the amount that remains after pre-tax deductions and taxes. Post-tax deductions basically consist of garnishment or disability insurance. 

What is Gross Pay?

Gross pay or gross wages refers to the total amount of money an employee earns before any deductions are made, such as taxes, insurance, or retirement contributions. It includes not only the base salary or hourly wages but also any bonuses, overtime pay, commissions, and other forms of compensation.

Thus, gross pay represents an employee’s earnings in their rawest form, providing a snapshot of their total income before mandatory or voluntary deductions. So, if you were wondering if it is gross before or after taxes, you can understand that it’s before taxes. 

We would like to point out here that gross pay and gross income are not the same thing. Gross income refers to all your earnings before taxes, not only the ones you receive from your employer. According to IRS, gross income should include: 

• Wages
• Capital gains 
• Business income
• Dividends and similar items. 

Levon Galstyan, a certified public accountant (CPA) at Oak View Law Group, explains the meaning of gross pay as follows: 

“Gross pay includes salary, hourly wage, reimbursements, bonuses, commissions, and overtime pay. To calculate gross pay, any commission, reimbursement, or bonuses owed to the employee should be added to their wages.”

Furthermore, Francis Fabrizi, an accountant at Keirstone Limited, shares an example of gross salary: 

“If an employee earns a salary of £50,000 per year, their gross pay would be £50,000.”

Thus, gross pay refers to the salary you agreed to with your employer, including your wages, bonuses, overtime, and reimbursements. 

Components of A Gross Pay

Now that you have a fair idea of what gross pay actually means, let’s take a look at its various components to understand the direct and indirect benefits you can reap from it.

• Basic Salary: This is the core component of an employee’s pay, typically fixed and representing a significant part of the gross wages. 

• Bonuses: Additional earnings rewarded for exceptional performance, meeting targets, or company profits. These can be monthly, quarterly, or annual.

• House Rent Allowance (HRA): Provided to employees to cover rental expenses. It’s a key part of pay in areas with high living costs.

• Overtime: Employees who work beyond their scheduled hours are entitled to overtime pay, which is added to their gross pay.

• Payroll Taxes: Employers contribute to social security, Medicare, and unemployment taxes, which are part of the overall gross salary.

• Perquisites: Non-cash benefits like a company car, medical insurance, or stock options, which are considered part of the overall compensation.

• Special Arrears: These are any outstanding payments due to the employee, often related to salary revisions or adjustments. For instance, if there was a salary hike in April, but the hike became effective in July, you are eligible to receive arrears for the last three months of the same year. 

Ways to Calculate Gross Income

Since gross pay or gross income represents the salary you agreed with the employer, calculating it is pretty simple. 

The exact steps to calculate the gross income will depend on whether you are a salaried or hourly employee. 

Salaried Employee

Levon Galstyan gave us a process of calculating gross pay based on the annual salary. Follow these simple steps to find out your gross earnings as a salaried employee: 

Divide the yearly salary by the number of pay periods in a year  

There are four standard payroll schedules: weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly. Of all these four payment frequency schemes, 45.7% of US employees receive payment bi-weekly. 

If you receive weekly salary, you will have 52 pay periods. So, to calculate your weekly earnings, all you need to do is divide your weekly earnings by 52. 

On the other hand, if you receive salary bi-weekly, you will have 26 pay periods. 

Furthermore, employees who receive salary twice a month will have 24 pay periods, while those paid monthly should divide their annual earnings by 12. 

How Often You Receive Payment	The Number of Pay Periods
Weekly	52
Bi-Weekly	26
Semi-Monthly	24
Monthly	12

Take for example, you receive a fixed annual salary of $75.000, which you receive in a semi-monthly frequency, i.e., twice a month. Then, your semi-monthly gross salary will be: 

$75,000 /24 = $3,125

Hourly Employee

Levon Galstyan provides steps to calculate gross salary per hour as well: 

• Multiply the hourly pay by the number of regular hours worked within a particular pay period, and 
• Include the overtime pay rate for the extra hours. 

As aforementioned, the payroll schedule represents how often you get paid. This depends on your agreement with the employer and is usually mentioned in the employment contract. 

Let’s suppose you are a software developer in the United States, and you want to calculate your weekly gross pay. The average hourly salary for a software developer in the US is around $36. Let’s also assume that you are paid weekly. 

You tracked 40 regular hours and 3 overtime hours for the previous week. 

We will first find out the regular earnings. All that you need to do is multiply the regular rate ($36) by the number of regular workweek hours (40 in this case) to obtain your exact earnings for regular hours worked: 

$36x 40 = $1,440

Now, as per the FLSA overtime rules, your hourly overtime rate will be 1.5 times your regular pay rate: 

$36×1.5 = $54

Next, since you worked 3 hours overtime, you need to multiply your overtime rate ($54) by the number of overtime hours (3 hours) to find out your weekly overtime earnings: 

$54×3 = $162

Once you get both the regular and overtime earnings, the calculation will go as follows: 

$1440+ $162 = $1,602

So, your final weekly gross pay is $1,602. 

Net vs Gross Pay: Key Differences

Understanding net vs gross pay comparison is essential when reviewing a paycheck. The principal accountant of Willmot Accounting, Brett Willmot, highlighted the importance of knowing the difference between net and gross pay : 

“It’s important to understand the difference between gross and net pay is important, as it can affect budgeting and financial planning. Gross pay is often used to determine an employee’s base salary or wages, while net pay is used to determine the actual amount of money that an employee will receive in their paycheck.”

 Here’s a breakdown of net vs gross pay comparison in tabular form:

Aspect	Net Pay	Gross Pay
Definition	The final amount received after deductions.	The total earnings before any deductions.
Calculation	Gross pay – (taxes, benefits, and other deductions).	Includes basic salary, bonuses, overtime, and allowances.
Payroll Taxes	Deducted from gross pay to calculate net pay.	Not deducted from gross pay.
Bonuses	Adjusted into net pay after taxes.	Part of gross pay.
Overtime	Reflects in the net pay.	Included in gross pay if applicable.
Employee Benefits	Deducted for benefits like health insurance or retirement contributions.	Not deducted from gross pay.
Retirement Contributions	Typically subtracted from gross pay (e.g., 401(k) contributions).	Not deducted from gross pay.
Visibility	Reflected in actual take-home paycheck.	Usually listed on job offers and contracts.
Importance	Indicates the real income after all deductions, useful for personal budgeting.	Helps you determine your tax bracket and understand your borrowing capacity.

While gross pay gives an overall picture of what an employee earns, net pay reflects the actual amount they can use. US employees should be aware of both figures to understand their total compensation and plan their finances effectively.

Against this backdrop, Levon Galstan reminds us that: 

“Employers are responsible for deducting the necessary expenses from an employee’s paycheck and making payments to the appropriate accounts before issuing the check or depositing the net pay into the employee’s bank account.”

Reporting Gross Salary on Taxes

When it comes to filing taxes in the U.S., understanding how to report your gross salary or pay, whatever you call it, is crucial. As you already know, gross salary refers to your total earnings before deductions like taxes and benefits. However, the process of reporting gross wages varies depending on whether you’re self-employed or a salaried employee. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown:

Filing as Self-Employed:

If you’re self-employed, gross salary includes all the income you receive from your business or freelance work before expenses. Instead of receiving a W-2 form, you typically report your earnings on Form 1099-NEC (Nonemployee Compensation) or Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business) attached to your Form 1040. 

• Business Expenses:  As a self-employed individual, you can deduct business-related expenses such as office supplies, travel, and software costs. These deductions reduce your taxable income.

• Self-Employment Taxes: You must pay self-employment taxes (Social Security and Medicare) on your gross income through Schedule SE.

• Quarterly Estimated Taxes: Self-employed individuals are also required to pay quarterly estimated taxes based on their expected gross pay for the year.

Filing for Salaried Individuals 

For salaried employees, reporting your gross pay is pretty simple. Your employer provides a W-2 form that shows your total gross income for the year, along with deductions for federal and state taxes, Social Security, and Medicare.

• W-2 Reporting: The gross salary listed on your W-2 includes wages, bonuses, and other compensation. When you file your taxes with Form 1040, you’ll report your gross salary from the W-2.

• Deductions and Credits: As a salaried employee, you may qualify for deductions like student loan interest or tax credits that reduce your taxable income.

Whether you’re self-employed or salaried, understanding how to report your gross salary is essential for accurate tax filing. Make sure to gather all necessary forms and deductions to minimize your taxable income.

Why Understanding Both is Important

Understanding net vs. gross pay comparison is essential for both employees and employers. It plays a key role in personal finance management and maintaining transparency in salary negotiations. Let’s see why understanding them is important both from the viewpoint of employers and employees: 

For Employees:

• Budgeting Personal Expenses: Net pay, or take-home pay, is the amount employees receive after deductions such as taxes and health insurance. It is the figure they use to pay bills, save, and invest. Understanding it helps employees create realistic budgets based on their actual income.

• Understanding Total Compensation Package: Gross pay includes an employee’s salary, bonuses, and other perks like health insurance or retirement benefits. By understanding gross wages, employees gain a complete picture of what their employer is offering beyond their monthly paycheck. This is crucial when comparing job offers or negotiating salaries.

• Planning for Retirement: Retirement contributions, such as 401(k) deductions, reduce an employee’s net pay but are part of gross pay. Being aware of these deductions helps employees make informed decisions about their retirement savings and ensures they are setting aside enough money for the future.

For Employers:

• Transparency in Salary Offers: Employers must clearly communicate gross and net pay to avoid confusion during job offers. Transparency ensures that candidates understand how much they will actually take home after taxes and deductions, leading to smoother negotiations.

• Calculating Payroll Costs: Employers use gross pay to calculate their total payroll expenses, which include salaries, taxes, and benefits. Understanding gross pay helps employers manage their budget and control costs effectively.

• Communicating Benefits Effectively: Highlighting the full gross pay, including benefits like healthcare, paid leave, and retirement contributions, helps employers demonstrate the total value of their compensation package, fostering employee satisfaction and retention.

In the end, we can say that understanding net vs gross pay comparison is essential for sound financial planning and transparent employer-employee relations.

Tips for Employees to Manage Gross and Net Pay 

Effectively managing gross and net pay is essential for employees to maintain financial stability. Here are some powerful tips to help you understand and make the most of your earnings.

• Know How Gross Pay is Calculated: Gross pay is your total earnings before deductions, including your basic salary, bonuses, overtime, and other allowances. It’s essential to know the components of your gross pay so that you can accurately track your total compensation package and plan your finances.

• Understand How Net Pay is Calculated: Net pay is the amount you take home after deductions such as federal and state taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and benefits like health insurance or retirement contributions. Understanding these deductions will help you budget based on what you actually receive.

• Check Your Paycheck: Always review your paycheck for accuracy. Ensure that the gross pay, net pay, and deductions are correct. Payroll mistakes happen, and verifying your check ensures you’re getting paid what you’re owed.

• Consider Employee Benefits: Benefits such as health insurance, dental coverage, and retirement contributions can reduce your net pay. However, these benefits provide long-term value and should be considered part of your overall compensation package.

• Understand FICA Payroll Tax: The Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax covers Social Security and Medicare contributions. These deductions are taken from your gross pay and impact your net pay, but they are necessary for future benefits like retirement income.

• Understand Retirement Plans: If your employer offers a retirement plan, such as a 401(k), contributions will be deducted from your gross pay, reducing your net income. Maximize these contributions to ensure a secure financial future.

• Understand State Income Tax: State income taxes vary by location and can significantly affect your net pay. Be aware of your state’s tax rates and consider them when planning your budget.

By understanding these factors, employees can better manage both their gross and net pay to achieve financial stability.

Conclusion

Understanding net vs. gross pay comparison is extremely important if you are part of the workforce. As you already know, the amount mentioned in your employment contract is your gross pay, which will help you determine your tax bracket and give an idea of your borrowing capacity. 

On the other hand, net pay is the money you can utilize as you wish. Knowing it will help you effortlessly save and plan your future expenses.

If you happen to run an organization, you can incorporate ClockDiary’s time card calculator to calculate your employees’ work hours, overtime, and breaks, thereby streamlining payroll processing. The best part is that it also integrates with payroll software for efficient payroll management. 

Get in touch with us to make this much-sought-after software an integral part of your workforce and see the difference for yourself. 

FAQs: