How Much Does a Payroll Clerk Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$58,260
Payroll clerks in the U.S. earn a median of $58,260 a year, or $28.01 an hour. Half of payroll clerks earn more than $58,260 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $81,350.
Pay percentiles for payroll clerks
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $18.99 | $39,500 |
| 25th | $23.07 | $47,990 |
| 50th (median) | $28.01 | $58,260 |
| 75th | $33.46 | $69,600 |
| 90th | $39.11 | $81,350 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks (SOC 43-3051). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for payroll clerks
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $74,670 | $35.90 | +28% |
| California | $65,340 | $31.41 | +12% |
| Washington | $64,560 | $31.04 | +11% |
| Colorado | $64,140 | $30.84 | +10% |
| Massachusetts | $63,670 | $30.61 | +9% |
| New Hampshire | $63,090 | $30.33 | +8% |
| Alaska | $62,210 | $29.91 | +7% |
| Connecticut | $62,200 | $29.91 | +7% |
| Hawaii | $62,070 | $29.84 | +7% |
| Illinois | $61,390 | $29.51 | +5% |
| United States | $58,260 | $28.01 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many payroll clerks are there?
BLS counts about 153,140 payroll clerks employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks”. The most jobs are in California (20,590), Texas (13,220) and Florida (10,910).
The mean (average) annual wage is $59,630, higher than the median of $58,260.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $4,855
- Biweekly
- $2,241
- Weekly
- $1,120
- Daily (8 hours)
- $224
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do payroll clerks make an hour?
The median hourly wage for payroll clerks is $28.01. The middle 50% earn between $23.07 and $33.46 an hour.
Which state pays payroll clerks the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for payroll clerks at $74,670, +28% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for payroll clerks?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of payroll clerks earn less than $39,500 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.