Short Answer: Not required by federal law, but many states mandate them.
Full Answer: The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require employers to provide pay stubs. However, most states have laws mandating employers to give employees a pay stub that details hours worked, wages earned, deductions, and net pay. States typically fall into three categories:
Required written pay stubs: Some states require employers to provide a physical or electronic pay stub.
Access to pay information: A few states require employers to provide pay stubs only upon employee request.
No requirement: Some states have no laws requiring pay stubs but may still encourage them for transparency.
Employers should comply with state-specific regulations to avoid penalties. Employees should review their state labor laws to understand their rights.
General Federal Standard: Pay stubs are not federally required but may be mandated by state laws.
Link to a legislative resource from trusted sources: U.S. Department of Labor - State Labor Laws