Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk Salary in Chicago, IL
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $62,920 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,766 take-home, or $4,147 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median payroll and timekeeping clerk salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,370
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,901
- Medicare (1.45%)$912
- Illinois income tax$2,970
- Take-home pay$49,766
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. 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 Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,340 | $20.36 | $34,249 | $2,854 |
| 25th percentile | $49,750 | $23.92 | $39,836 | $3,320 |
| Median (50th) | $62,920 | $30.25 | $49,766 | $4,147 |
| 75th percentile | $77,230 | $37.13 | $59,483 | $4,957 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $87,990 | $42.30 | $66,520 | $5,543 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $62,920 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median payroll and timekeeping clerk's $49,766 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,039 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 Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for payroll and timekeeping clerks, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #4 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 Chicago, IL?
The median payroll and timekeeping clerk salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $62,920 a year, or about $30.25 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,750 and $77,230.
What is a payroll and timekeeping clerk’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $62,920 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $49,766 a year ($4,147 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,970 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a payroll and timekeeping clerk?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $58,260. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,039 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #4 of 10 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a payroll and timekeeping clerk afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 37% 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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