How much does a payroll and timekeeping clerk make?
The median payroll and timekeeping clerk in the United States earns $58,260 per year, about $28.01 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all payroll and timekeeping clerks earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 43-3051.
Payroll and timekeeping clerk salary range
Pay for payroll and timekeeping clerks spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $39,500 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $81,350. The average (mean) wage of $59,630 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,500 | $18.99 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $47,990 | $23.07 | |
| Median (50th) | $58,260 | $28.01 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $69,600 | $33.46 | |
| 90th percentile | $81,350 | $39.11 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for payroll and timekeeping clerks (SOC 43-3051), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Payroll and timekeeping clerk salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Payroll and timekeeping clerks earn the most in District of Columbia at $74,670 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $45,170. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $74,670 | 270 |
| California | $65,340 | 20,590 |
| Washington | $64,560 | 3,560 |
| Colorado | $64,140 | 2,580 |
| Massachusetts | $63,670 | 3,280 |
| New Hampshire | $63,090 | 800 |
| Alaska | $62,210 | 360 |
| Connecticut | $62,200 | 1,540 |
| Hawaii | $62,070 | 700 |
| Illinois | $61,390 | 5,580 |
| Minnesota | $61,320 | 2,790 |
| New York | $61,040 | 8,400 |
| Oregon | $60,980 | 2,890 |
| New Jersey | $60,750 | 4,290 |
| North Dakota | $60,600 | 300 |
| Georgia | $59,990 | 6,720 |
| Maryland | $59,760 | 1,870 |
| Rhode Island | $59,370 | 410 |
| Wisconsin | $59,310 | 2,590 |
| Virginia | $58,250 | 3,400 |
| Nevada | $58,220 | 1,390 |
| Maine | $57,360 | 590 |
| Ohio | $57,270 | 5,820 |
| Kansas | $56,590 | 1,400 |
| Delaware | $56,430 | 320 |
| Utah | $56,430 | 1,590 |
| Michigan | $56,160 | 4,050 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,690 | 5,170 |
| Vermont | $55,340 | 270 |
| Montana | $55,040 | 530 |
| Nebraska | $54,900 | 910 |
| Texas | $54,090 | 13,220 |
| Iowa | $54,080 | 1,230 |
| Missouri | $54,080 | 3,460 |
| Indiana | $53,770 | 4,020 |
| North Carolina | $53,550 | 3,630 |
| New Mexico | $53,230 | 820 |
| Kentucky | $52,890 | 1,670 |
| South Carolina | $52,240 | 1,550 |
| Wyoming | $51,940 | 160 |
| Florida | $51,910 | 10,910 |
| Idaho | $51,790 | 800 |
| Tennessee | $51,780 | 3,680 |
| Louisiana | $50,800 | 2,160 |
| Arizona | $50,210 | 3,540 |
| Oklahoma | $49,920 | 2,470 |
| South Dakota | $47,680 | 370 |
| West Virginia | $47,460 | 580 |
| Alabama | $46,170 | 1,360 |
| Arkansas | $46,110 | 1,220 |
| Mississippi | $45,170 | 1,330 |
State median wages for payroll and timekeeping clerks (SOC 43-3051), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for payroll and timekeeping clerks
The BLS projects employment of payroll and timekeeping clerks to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 15.9%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 159,600 jobs in 2025 moving toward 134,300 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 11,400 openings a year for payroll and timekeeping clerks. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a payroll and timekeeping clerk
The typical entry-level education for payroll and timekeeping clerks is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a payroll and timekeeping clerk earns
Employer, industry, seniority, and metro area drive pay. Large organizations and high cost cities pay above small offices and entry-level roles.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (District of Columbia, $74,670) and the lowest (Mississippi, $45,170) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 153,140 people work as payroll and timekeeping clerks in the United States. At $58,260 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Payroll and timekeeping clerk salary FAQ
How much does a payroll and timekeeping clerk make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a payroll and timekeeping clerk is $28.01. The middle half of payroll and timekeeping clerks earn between $23.07 and $33.46 per hour.
What is the highest payroll and timekeeping clerk salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of payroll and timekeeping clerks earn more than $81,350 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a payroll and timekeeping clerk make a year?
The median annual salary for a payroll and timekeeping clerk is $58,260. The average (mean) wage of $59,630 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a payroll and timekeeping clerk a well paid job?
At $58,260 a year, a payroll and timekeeping clerk earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 153,140 people work as payroll and timekeeping clerks in the United States.
Which state pays payroll and timekeeping clerks the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median salary for payroll and timekeeping clerks at $74,670 a year. California ($65,340) and Washington ($64,560) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a payroll and timekeeping clerk a good career?
Employment of payroll and timekeeping clerks is projected to shrink 15.9% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 11,400 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a payroll and timekeeping clerk?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for payroll and timekeeping clerks as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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