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.
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 | San Jose, CA | $77,950 | $59,631 | $54,002 | 1,000 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $80,510 | $61,164 | $52,904 | 2,260 |
| 3 | Cleveland, OH | $59,110 | $48,832 | $51,991 | 1,370 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $59,630 | $50,093 | $51,081 | 960 |
| 5 | Columbus, OH | $59,010 | $48,754 | $51,068 | 1,200 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $60,510 | $48,918 | $50,464 | 690 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $59,190 | $47,895 | $50,369 | 1,530 |
| 8 | Omaha, NE | $56,870 | $46,167 | $50,230 | 460 |
| 9 | Seattle, WA | $66,630 | $55,704 | $50,124 | 1,980 |
| 10 | Cincinnati, OH | $57,540 | $47,613 | $49,925 | 1,030 |
| 11 | Atlanta, GA | $62,710 | $49,936 | $49,907 | 4,260 |
| 12 | Kansas City, MO | $56,590 | $45,928 | $49,628 | 1,260 |
| 13 | Baton Rouge, LA | $54,580 | $44,784 | $49,332 | 540 |
| 14 | Denver, CO | $64,760 | $52,074 | $49,227 | 1,580 |
| 15 | Las Vegas, NV | $58,570 | $49,241 | $49,135 | 940 |
| 16 | Hartford, CT | $62,400 | $50,435 | $49,087 | 590 |
| 17 | Dallas, TX | $60,230 | $50,575 | $49,059 | 3,800 |
| 18 | Nashville, TN | $55,960 | $47,144 | $48,936 | 1,460 |
| 19 | Memphis, TN | $53,420 | $45,103 | $48,930 | 520 |
| 20 | Sacramento, CA | $65,810 | $52,150 | $48,889 | 2,000 |
| 21 | Richmond, VA | $60,010 | $47,762 | $48,807 | 630 |
| 22 | Boston, MA | $66,930 | $52,789 | $48,758 | 2,500 |
| 23 | Knoxville, TN | $52,910 | $44,693 | $48,281 | 500 |
| 24 | Chicago, IL | $62,920 | $49,766 | $48,039 | 4,170 |
| 25 | Charlotte, NC | $57,650 | $46,710 | $47,983 | 970 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Francisco, CA — $80,510
- San Jose, CA — $77,950
- Boston, MA — $66,930
- Seattle, WA — $66,630
- Sacramento, CA — $65,810
- Los Angeles, CA — $65,040
- Denver, CO — $64,760
- Portland, OR — $64,170
- San Diego, CA — $63,810
- New York, NY — $63,500
- Washington, DC — $63,440
- Minneapolis, MN — $63,060
- Chicago, IL — $62,920
- Atlanta, GA — $62,710
- Hartford, CT — $62,400
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $74,670 | $57,953 | $49,270 – $98,760 | 270 |
| California | $65,340 | $51,816 | $46,120 – $92,080 | 20,590 |
| Washington | $64,560 | $54,054 | $50,220 – $89,290 | 3,560 |
| Colorado | $64,140 | $51,603 | $46,590 – $88,050 | 2,580 |
| Massachusetts | $63,670 | $50,375 | $49,110 – $86,360 | 3,280 |
| New Hampshire | $63,090 | $52,873 | $42,220 – $87,140 | 800 |
| Alaska | $62,210 | $52,166 | $46,790 – $78,450 | 360 |
| Connecticut | $62,200 | $50,284 | $47,120 – $83,950 | 1,540 |
| Hawaii | $62,070 | $48,866 | $45,140 – $83,810 | 700 |
| Illinois | $61,390 | $48,613 | $39,670 – $86,460 | 5,580 |
| Minnesota | $61,320 | $48,804 | $49,270 – $79,370 | 2,790 |
| New York | $61,040 | $48,526 | $45,140 – $86,470 | 8,400 |
| Oregon | $60,980 | $46,671 | $42,430 – $82,080 | 2,890 |
| New Jersey | $60,750 | $49,184 | $42,990 – $84,990 | 4,290 |
| North Dakota | $60,600 | $50,872 | $46,880 – $77,530 | 300 |
| Georgia | $59,990 | $47,891 | $39,590 – $76,790 | 6,720 |
| Maryland | $59,760 | $47,722 | $31,750 – $82,140 | 1,870 |
| Rhode Island | $59,370 | $48,274 | $38,080 – $82,090 | 410 |
| Wisconsin | $59,310 | $48,007 | $42,730 – $76,830 | 2,590 |
| Virginia | $58,250 | $46,449 | $43,890 – $78,800 | 3,400 |
| Nevada | $58,220 | $48,960 | $37,850 – $78,410 | 1,390 |
| Maine | $57,360 | $45,579 | $43,370 – $79,040 | 590 |
| Ohio | $57,270 | $47,404 | $40,310 – $80,650 | 5,820 |
| Kansas | $56,590 | $45,292 | $42,340 – $79,160 | 1,400 |
| Delaware | $56,430 | $45,067 | $38,680 – $86,620 | 320 |
| Utah | $56,430 | $45,948 | $43,400 – $74,530 | 1,590 |
| Michigan | $56,160 | $45,169 | $38,560 – $78,200 | 4,050 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,690 | $45,217 | $39,630 – $76,980 | 5,170 |
| Vermont | $55,340 | $45,226 | $45,010 – $70,690 | 270 |
| Montana | $55,040 | $44,574 | $37,910 – $78,500 | 530 |
| Nebraska | $54,900 | $44,674 | $43,320 – $74,360 | 910 |
| Texas | $54,090 | $45,641 | $36,040 – $75,850 | 13,220 |
| Iowa | $54,080 | $44,230 | $39,410 – $70,990 | 1,230 |
| Missouri | $54,080 | $44,029 | $37,030 – $79,470 | 3,460 |
| Indiana | $53,770 | $43,827 | $38,910 – $77,700 | 4,020 |
| North Carolina | $53,550 | $43,580 | $36,620 – $74,480 | 3,630 |
| New Mexico | $53,230 | $43,614 | $37,230 – $69,990 | 820 |
| Kentucky | $52,890 | $42,944 | $36,600 – $76,590 | 1,670 |
| South Carolina | $52,240 | $42,178 | $38,180 – $77,660 | 1,550 |
| Wyoming | $51,940 | $43,914 | $38,320 – $74,610 | 160 |
| Florida | $51,910 | $43,890 | $35,730 – $76,710 | 10,910 |
| Idaho | $51,790 | $42,157 | $41,440 – $70,390 | 800 |
| Tennessee | $51,780 | $43,785 | $36,270 – $75,160 | 3,680 |
| Louisiana | $50,800 | $41,860 | $29,480 – $71,750 | 2,160 |
| Arizona | $50,210 | $41,477 | $33,870 – $69,980 | 3,540 |
| Oklahoma | $49,920 | $40,590 | $32,410 – $74,190 | 2,470 |
| South Dakota | $47,680 | $40,491 | $38,780 – $64,350 | 370 |
| West Virginia | $47,460 | $38,906 | $30,990 – $63,390 | 580 |
| Alabama | $46,170 | $37,234 | $32,210 – $64,170 | 1,360 |
| Arkansas | $46,110 | $37,644 | $34,270 – $71,280 | 1,220 |
| Mississippi | $45,170 | $37,399 | $30,560 – $66,930 | 1,330 |
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, San Jose, CA 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.
All 60 cities
- Albany, NY
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Bakersfield, CA
- Baltimore, MD
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Boston, MA
- Buffalo, NY
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- El Paso, TX
- Fresno, CA
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Hartford, CT
- Houston, TX
- Indianapolis, IN
- Jacksonville, FL
- Kansas City, MO
- Knoxville, TN
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- Louisville, KY
- Memphis, TN
- Miami, FL
- Milwaukee, WI
- Minneapolis, MN
- Nashville, TN
- New Orleans, LA
- New York, NY
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Omaha, NE
- Orlando, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Portland, OR
- Providence, RI
- Raleigh, NC
- Richmond, VA
- Riverside, CA
- Rochester, NY
- Sacramento, CA
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Seattle, WA
- St. Louis, MO
- Tampa, FL
- Tulsa, OK
- Urban Honolulu, HI
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Washington, DC