Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk Salary
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks earn a median $58,260 a year nationally. Office and Administrative Support Occupations
U.S. median
$58,260
$28.01 per hour
Range
$39,500 – $81,350
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
153,140
across the U.S.
▲5.4%
Pay trend: The median for payroll and timekeeping clerks in the U.S. rose from $55,290 (May 2024) to $58,260 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 3.0%.
What payroll and timekeeping clerks do
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)
- Openings per year
- 11,400
- Self-employed
- 2%
Employment of payroll and timekeeping clerks is projected to shrink 15.9% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 11,400 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$48,992
per year · effective tax rate 15.9%
$4,083Monthly
$2,041Twice a month
$1,884Every 2 weeks
$23.55Hourly
- Federal income tax$4,811
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,612
- Medicare (1.45%)$845
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$48,992
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,500 | $18.99 | $33,918 |
| 25th percentile | $47,990 | $23.07 | $40,740 |
| Median (50th) | $58,260 | $28.01 | $48,992 |
| 75th percentile | $69,600 | $33.46 | $57,794 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,350 | $39.11 | $66,060 |
Best cities for payroll and timekeeping clerks (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlanta, GA | $62,710 | $49,936 | $49,907 | 4,260 |
| 2 | Dallas, TX | $60,230 | $50,575 | $49,059 | 3,800 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $66,930 | $52,789 | $48,758 | 2,500 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $62,920 | $49,766 | $48,039 | 4,170 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $58,810 | $47,628 | $46,442 | 2,410 |
| 6 | Houston, TX | $54,090 | $45,641 | $46,276 | 3,260 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $65,040 | $51,603 | $45,439 | 6,600 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $63,500 | $50,370 | $44,748 | 7,770 |
| 9 | Miami, FL | $57,450 | $48,341 | $42,347 | 2,750 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $50,350 | $41,586 | $40,251 | 2,650 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Boston, MA — $66,930
- Los Angeles, CA — $65,040
- New York, NY — $63,500
- Chicago, IL — $62,920
- Atlanta, GA — $62,710
- Dallas, TX — $60,230
- Philadelphia, PA — $58,810
- Miami, FL — $57,450
- Houston, TX — $54,090
- Phoenix, AZ — $50,350
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $74,670 | +7.9% | $57,953 | $49,270 – $98,760 | 270 |
| California | $65,340 | +6.0% | $51,816 | $46,120 – $92,080 | 20,590 |
| Washington | $64,560 | +3.6% | $54,054 | $50,220 – $89,290 | 3,560 |
| Colorado | $64,140 | +8.5% | $51,603 | $46,590 – $88,050 | 2,580 |
| Massachusetts | $63,670 | +5.7% | $50,375 | $49,110 – $86,360 | 3,280 |
| New Hampshire | $63,090 | +4.0% | $52,873 | $42,220 – $87,140 | 800 |
| Alaska | $62,210 | +4.8% | $52,166 | $46,790 – $78,450 | 360 |
| Connecticut | $62,200 | +2.4% | $50,284 | $47,120 – $83,950 | 1,540 |
| Hawaii | $62,070 | +7.0% | $48,866 | $45,140 – $83,810 | 700 |
| Illinois | $61,390 | +2.2% | $48,613 | $39,670 – $86,460 | 5,580 |
| Minnesota | $61,320 | +0.9% | $48,804 | $49,270 – $79,370 | 2,790 |
| New York | $61,040 | +0.7% | $48,526 | $45,140 – $86,470 | 8,400 |
| Oregon | $60,980 | +2.6% | $46,671 | $42,430 – $82,080 | 2,890 |
| New Jersey | $60,750 | +1.4% | $49,184 | $42,990 – $84,990 | 4,290 |
| North Dakota | $60,600 | +3.4% | $50,872 | $46,880 – $77,530 | 300 |
| Georgia | $59,990 | +14.9% | $47,891 | $39,590 – $76,790 | 6,720 |
| Maryland | $59,760 | +3.8% | $47,722 | $31,750 – $82,140 | 1,870 |
| Rhode Island | $59,370 | −0.2% | $48,274 | $38,080 – $82,090 | 410 |
| Wisconsin | $59,310 | +7.0% | $48,007 | $42,730 – $76,830 | 2,590 |
| Virginia | $58,250 | +5.4% | $46,449 | $43,890 – $78,800 | 3,400 |
| Nevada | $58,220 | +3.4% | $48,960 | $37,850 – $78,410 | 1,390 |
| Maine | $57,360 | +8.0% | $45,579 | $43,370 – $79,040 | 590 |
| Ohio | $57,270 | +11.3% | $47,404 | $40,310 – $80,650 | 5,820 |
| Kansas | $56,590 | +13.1% | $45,292 | $42,340 – $79,160 | 1,400 |
| Delaware | $56,430 | −2.2% | $45,067 | $38,680 – $86,620 | 320 |
| Utah | $56,430 | +3.0% | $45,948 | $43,400 – $74,530 | 1,590 |
| Michigan | $56,160 | +2.7% | $45,169 | $38,560 – $78,200 | 4,050 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,690 | +0.1% | $45,217 | $39,630 – $76,980 | 5,170 |
| Vermont | $55,340 | −6.5% | $45,226 | $45,010 – $70,690 | 270 |
| Montana | $55,040 | +9.5% | $44,574 | $37,910 – $78,500 | 530 |
| Nebraska | $54,900 | +4.3% | $44,674 | $43,320 – $74,360 | 910 |
| Texas | $54,090 | +4.0% | $45,641 | $36,040 – $75,850 | 13,220 |
| Iowa | $54,080 | +8.2% | $44,230 | $39,410 – $70,990 | 1,230 |
| Missouri | $54,080 | +4.1% | $44,029 | $37,030 – $79,470 | 3,460 |
| Indiana | $53,770 | +8.9% | $43,827 | $38,910 – $77,700 | 4,020 |
| North Carolina | $53,550 | +3.0% | $43,580 | $36,620 – $74,480 | 3,630 |
| New Mexico | $53,230 | −1.7% | $43,614 | $37,230 – $69,990 | 820 |
| Kentucky | $52,890 | +5.4% | $42,944 | $36,600 – $76,590 | 1,670 |
| South Carolina | $52,240 | +3.0% | $42,178 | $38,180 – $77,660 | 1,550 |
| Wyoming | $51,940 | −3.2% | $43,914 | $38,320 – $74,610 | 160 |
| Florida | $51,910 | +8.1% | $43,890 | $35,730 – $76,710 | 10,910 |
| Idaho | $51,790 | −11.0% | $42,157 | $41,440 – $70,390 | 800 |
| Tennessee | $51,780 | +3.3% | $43,785 | $36,270 – $75,160 | 3,680 |
| Louisiana | $50,800 | +1.9% | $41,860 | $29,480 – $71,750 | 2,160 |
| Arizona | $50,210 | −0.8% | $41,477 | $33,870 – $69,980 | 3,540 |
| Oklahoma | $49,920 | +9.3% | $40,590 | $32,410 – $74,190 | 2,470 |
| South Dakota | $47,680 | +1.6% | $40,491 | $38,780 – $64,350 | 370 |
| West Virginia | $47,460 | +12.8% | $38,906 | $30,990 – $63,390 | 580 |
| Alabama | $46,170 | +1.5% | $37,234 | $32,210 – $64,170 | 1,360 |
| Arkansas | $46,110 | +0.6% | $37,644 | $34,270 – $71,280 | 1,220 |
| Mississippi | $45,170 | +3.2% | $37,399 | $30,560 – $66,930 | 1,330 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Clerks, All Other | $53,830 | High school diploma or equivalent | 0.0% |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $50,670 | Some college, no degree | -5.6% |
| Procurement Clerk | $50,580 | High school diploma or equivalent | -8.1% |
| Billing and Posting Clerk | $48,500 | High school diploma or equivalent | -0.1% |
| Bill and Account Collector | $47,030 | High school diploma or equivalent | -10.4% |
| Teller | $43,030 | High school diploma or equivalent | -13.2% |
| Gambling Cage Worker | $37,580 | High school diploma or equivalent | -3.1% |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $58,470 | No formal educational credential | -5.3% |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $59,650 | High school diploma or equivalent | -1.3% |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $60,550 | No formal educational credential | -0.3% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a payroll and timekeeping clerk make?
The national median salary for payroll and timekeeping clerks is $58,260 a year ($28.01 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $39,500 and the top 10% earn over $81,350. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays payroll and timekeeping clerks the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $74,670. After taxes and local prices, Atlanta, GA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many payroll and timekeeping clerks are there in the U.S.?
About 153,140 people work as payroll and timekeeping clerks nationwide.