Gross Pay — Payroll Definition

What is Gross Pay? Clear definition and explanation for payroll professionals, HR managers, and employees.

What is Gross Pay?

Gross pay is the total amount of money you earn before any taxes, insurance, retirement contributions, or other deductions are taken out. For hourly workers, it's calculated as: hours worked × hourly rate + overtime + bonuses. For salaried employees, it's your annual salary divided by the number of pay periods. Gross pay is always higher than your net (take-home) pay. Lenders and landlords often evaluate your income based on gross pay.