Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk Salary in Boston, MA
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $66,930 a year — 15% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $52,789 take-home, or $4,399 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median payroll and timekeeping clerk salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,895
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,150
- Medicare (1.45%)$970
- Massachusetts income tax$3,127
- Take-home pay$52,789
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,510 | $24.28 | $40,459 | $3,372 |
| 25th percentile | $56,990 | $27.40 | $45,342 | $3,778 |
| Median (50th) | $66,930 | $32.18 | $52,789 | $4,399 |
| 75th percentile | $79,440 | $38.19 | $60,964 | $5,080 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,450 | $43.00 | $67,506 | $5,625 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $66,930 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median payroll and timekeeping clerk's $52,789 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,758 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 Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for payroll and timekeeping clerks, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #3 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 Boston, MA?
The median payroll and timekeeping clerk salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $66,930 a year, or about $32.18 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $56,990 and $79,440.
What is a payroll and timekeeping clerk’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $66,930 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $52,789 a year ($4,399 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,127 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a payroll and timekeeping clerk?
Pay here is 15% above the national median of $58,260. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,758 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #3 of 10 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a payroll and timekeeping clerk afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 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%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
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