Some voluntary deductions - medical, dental, vision insurance, etc. - are paid pre-tax. Total gross - all the money earned - less those pretax deductions leaves your taxable gross pay. Federal and state taxes, social security, etc. are based on your taxable gross, not total gross. That would be the "pretax" part...
Oh, by the way, as of today I no longer work for the Radisson Plaza. The deal closed, we're now the Lexington Downtown Hotel & Conference Center. Same building, same people, just a new name.
