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Guide · 5 min read · Updated 2026

Tennessee pay stub requirements

Governed by Tennessee Code Annotated § 50-2-103. This guide covers the mandatory items on every wage statement, penalties for non-compliance, and a checklist for TN employers.

The rule in one paragraph

Tennessee requires employers with five or more employees to provide an itemized wage statement each pay period. The Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development enforces the rule.

Mandatory wage-statement items

  1. 1
    Employee name

    Full name of the employee.

  2. 2
    Pay-period dates

    Beginning and ending dates of the pay period.

  3. 3
    Hours worked

    Regular and overtime hours for non-exempt employees.

  4. 4
    Rate of pay

    Hourly, salary, piece, or commission rate applied.

  5. 5
    Gross wages

    Total wages earned before deductions.

  6. 6
    Deductions

    Each deduction itemized separately.

  7. 7
    Net wages

    Take-home pay after all deductions.

Penalties and retention

Penalties

No statutory per-stub damages. Enforcement through DOL Wage & Hour claims; federal FLSA record-keeping penalties still apply.

Record retention

At least three years to align with federal FLSA rules.

Electronic wage statements

Allowed, provided employees can access and print records at no cost.

Compliance checklist

  • All required items appear on every wage statement
  • Overtime hours and rates itemized for non-exempt employees
  • Deductions labeled clearly
  • Records retained per state and federal rules
  • Portal or paper delivery available on request

Frequently asked questions

Does Tennessee require pay stubs?

Yes — Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-2-103 requires an itemized wage statement each pay period.

Are electronic pay stubs allowed?

Yes, provided employees can access and print their statements at no cost.

How long must payroll records be retained?

At least three years to align with federal FLSA rules.

How do I file a wage claim?

File a wage claim with the Tennessee state labor agency, or file a federal FLSA complaint with the US Department of Labor Wage & Hour Division.

Generate a TN-compliant pay stub

StubGenPro's US pay stub template covers hours-at-each-rate, itemized deductions, YTD totals, and pay-period dates — the fields most state laws require.

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