Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk Salary in Houston, TX
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $54,090 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $45,641 take-home, or $3,803 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median payroll and timekeeping clerk salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,311
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,354
- Medicare (1.45%)$784
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$45,641
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,470 | $18.50 | $33,091 | $2,758 |
| 25th percentile | $48,790 | $23.46 | $41,383 | $3,449 |
| Median (50th) | $54,090 | $26.00 | $45,641 | $3,803 |
| 75th percentile | $64,050 | $30.79 | $53,644 | $4,470 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,110 | $37.07 | $63,077 | $5,256 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $54,090 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median payroll and timekeeping clerk's $45,641 take-home pay has the buying power of $46,276 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 Houston, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.01).
Best-paying cities for payroll and timekeeping clerks, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #6 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.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Dallas, TX — $60,230
Frequently asked questions
How much does a payroll and timekeeping clerk make in Houston, TX?
The median payroll and timekeeping clerk salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $54,090 a year, or about $26.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,790 and $64,050.
What is a payroll and timekeeping clerk’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $54,090 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $45,641 a year ($3,803 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a payroll and timekeeping clerk?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $58,260. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $46,276 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #6 of 10 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a payroll and timekeeping clerk afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 35% 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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