Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $65,040 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $51,603 take-home, or $4,300 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median payroll and timekeeping clerk salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,625
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,032
- Medicare (1.45%)$943
- California income tax$1,991
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$846
- Take-home pay$51,603
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 8.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,970 | $23.54 | $39,903 | $3,325 |
| 25th percentile | $59,810 | $28.75 | $47,822 | $3,985 |
| Median (50th) | $65,040 | $31.27 | $51,603 | $4,300 |
| 75th percentile | $78,160 | $37.58 | $59,759 | $4,980 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,640 | $42.62 | $66,022 | $5,502 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $65,040 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median payroll and timekeeping clerk's $51,603 take-home pay has the buying power of $45,439 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk jobs are about as common in Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.07).
Best-paying cities for payroll and timekeeping clerks, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #7 of 10 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlanta, GA | $62,710 | $49,936 | $49,907 |
| 2 | Dallas, TX | $60,230 | $50,575 | $49,059 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $66,930 | $52,789 | $48,758 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $62,920 | $49,766 | $48,039 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $58,810 | $47,628 | $46,442 |
| 6 | Houston, TX | $54,090 | $45,641 | $46,276 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $65,040 | $51,603 | $45,439 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $63,500 | $50,370 | $44,748 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 10 metros →
About the job: payroll and timekeeping clerks
Compile and record employee time and payroll data. May compute employees’ time worked, production, and commission. May compute and post wages and deductions, or prepare paychecks.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -15.9% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a payroll and timekeeping clerk make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median payroll and timekeeping clerk salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $65,040 a year, or about $31.27 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,810 and $78,160.
What is a payroll and timekeeping clerk’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $65,040 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $51,603 a year ($4,300 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,837 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a payroll and timekeeping clerk?
Pay here is 12% above the national median of $58,260. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $45,439 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #7 of 10 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a payroll and timekeeping clerk afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 52% of a median payroll and timekeeping clerk’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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