Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for payroll and timekeeping clerks in the U.S. is $58,260 ($28.01 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $58,260
- Mean annual wage
- $59,630
- Median hourly wage
- $28.01
- Employment
- 153,140
153,140 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,500 | $18.99 |
| 25th percentile | $47,990 | $23.07 |
| Median (50th) | $58,260 | $28.01 |
| 75th percentile | $69,600 | $33.46 |
| 90th percentile | $81,350 | $39.11 |
Highest-paying states for payroll and timekeeping clerks
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Lowest-paying states
- Mississippi: $45,170 median annual wage
- Arkansas: $46,110 median annual wage
- Alabama: $46,170 median annual wage
- West Virginia: $47,460 median annual wage
- South Dakota: $47,680 median annual wage
About this occupation
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 tasks
- Prepare and balance period-end reports, and reconcile issued payrolls to bank statements.
- Coordinate special programs, such as United Way campaigns, that involve payroll deductions.
- Compute wages and deductions, and enter data into computers.
- Issue and record adjustments to pay related to previous errors or retroactive increases.
- Prepare and file payroll tax returns.
- Complete, verify, and process forms and documentation for administration of benefits, such as pension plans, and unemployment and medical insurance.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 2.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 20.3% |
| Some college, no degree | 32.6% |
| Associate's degree | 14.2% |
| Bachelor's degree | 25.6% |
| Master's degree | 4.7% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.5% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Customer Service Representatives$44,770
- Office Clerks, General$45,010
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$47,540
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$69,500
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$50,670
- Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$45,930
- Receptionists and Information Clerks$38,010
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$45,260
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.