Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A payroll and timekeeping clerk earns a median of $58,260 a year ($28.01 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $59,630. About 153,140 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $58,260
- Gross pay
- $2,240.77
- Federal income tax
- −$185.05
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$138.93
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$32.49
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,884.30
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $58,260
- Federal
- $4,811
- FICA
- $4,457
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $48,992
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $74,670 | $76,510 | 270 |
| California | $65,340 | $68,580 | 20,590 |
| Washington | $64,560 | $67,810 | 3,560 |
| Colorado | $64,140 | $65,400 | 2,580 |
| Massachusetts | $63,670 | $66,810 | 3,280 |
| New Hampshire | $63,090 | $64,240 | 800 |
| Alaska | $62,210 | $62,990 | 360 |
| Connecticut | $62,200 | $64,880 | 1,540 |
| Hawaii | $62,070 | $64,260 | 700 |
| Illinois | $61,390 | $62,460 | 5,580 |
| Minnesota | $61,320 | $62,620 | 2,790 |
| New York | $61,040 | $63,650 | 8,400 |
| Oregon | $60,980 | $62,260 | 2,890 |
| New Jersey | $60,750 | $62,510 | 4,290 |
| North Dakota | $60,600 | $61,350 | 300 |
| Georgia | $59,990 | $59,510 | 6,720 |
| Maryland | $59,760 | $59,580 | 1,870 |
| Rhode Island | $59,370 | $61,010 | 410 |
| Wisconsin | $59,310 | $59,710 | 2,590 |
| Virginia | $58,250 | $59,810 | 3,400 |
| Nevada | $58,220 | $58,800 | 1,390 |
| Maine | $57,360 | $59,700 | 590 |
| Ohio | $57,270 | $58,530 | 5,820 |
| Kansas | $56,590 | $58,630 | 1,400 |
| Delaware | $56,430 | $61,460 | 320 |
| Utah | $56,430 | $57,810 | 1,590 |
| Michigan | $56,160 | $58,450 | 4,050 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,690 | $56,880 | 5,170 |
| Vermont | $55,340 | $56,440 | 270 |
| Montana | $55,040 | $57,000 | 530 |
| Nebraska | $54,900 | $57,030 | 910 |
| Texas | $54,090 | $55,390 | 13,220 |
| Iowa | $54,080 | $56,960 | 1,230 |
| Missouri | $54,080 | $56,000 | 3,460 |
| Indiana | $53,770 | $55,590 | 4,020 |
| North Carolina | $53,550 | $54,800 | 3,630 |
| New Mexico | $53,230 | $53,380 | 820 |
| Kentucky | $52,890 | $54,510 | 1,670 |
| South Carolina | $52,240 | $54,950 | 1,550 |
| Wyoming | $51,940 | $54,000 | 160 |
| Florida | $51,910 | $55,170 | 10,910 |
| Idaho | $51,790 | $54,810 | 800 |
| Tennessee | $51,780 | $54,220 | 3,680 |
| Louisiana | $50,800 | $51,730 | 2,160 |
| Arizona | $50,210 | $52,140 | 3,540 |
| Oklahoma | $49,920 | $52,030 | 2,470 |
| South Dakota | $47,680 | $49,730 | 370 |
| West Virginia | $47,460 | $47,820 | 580 |
| Alabama | $46,170 | $47,530 | 1,360 |
| Arkansas | $46,110 | $49,750 | 1,220 |
| Mississippi | $45,170 | $47,680 | 1,330 |
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- Desktop Publisher: $55,290
- Communications Equipment Operator: $54,680
- Postal Service Clerk: $62,130
- Eligibility Interviewer: $54,210
BLS occupation: Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 43-3051). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a payroll and timekeeping clerk make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $28.01; the average is $28.67.
Which state pays payroll and timekeeping clerks the most?
District of Columbia ($74,670 median), followed by California and Washington.
What is the salary range for a payroll and timekeeping clerk?
The bottom 10% earn under $39,500 and the top 10% earn over $81,350 a year.
How much is $58,260 after taxes?
About $48,992 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $46,699 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.