What Is a Salary Slip?
In India, Pakistan, and across the Gulf, a salary slip is the official monthly document showing your earnings components and statutory deductions. Here is what every line means.
"Salary slip" and "pay stub" refer to the same concept but come from different professional traditions. The term "pay stub" is used in North America. "Salary slip" is used across South Asia and the Gulf — India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait. "Payslip" is used in the UK, Australia, and most of Africa.
Earnings components on an Indian salary slip
Indian salary slips are distinctive because they break earnings into components rather than showing a single salary figure. This is deliberate — different components attract different tax treatment, which affects both employer costs and employee take-home pay.
The most common components are: Basic Salary (the foundation, usually 40-60% of CTC), HRA (House Rent Allowance, partially tax-exempt), DA (Dearness Allowance, mostly for government employees), Conveyance Allowance, Medical Allowance, and Special Allowance (a catch-all top-up).
Deductions on an Indian salary slip
The deductions side of an Indian salary slip typically shows EPF (12% of basic, or capped at ₹1,800 if basic exceeds ₹15,000), ESI (0.75% of gross, only if gross ≤ ₹21,000), Professional Tax (state-specific, commonly ₹200/month), and TDS (income tax deducted at source under the new or old regime).
Generate an accurate Indian salary slip with current FY 2025-26 rates at GenStub's salary slip generator.