Salary AI Book a Demo
upper level job

Payroll Processing Clerk III Salary in the United States

How much does a Payroll Processing Clerk III make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Payroll Processing Clerk III in the United States is $56,990 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.

However, a Payroll Processing Clerk III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $67,880
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $51,290 to $62,690
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $46,100
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Payroll Processing Clerk III Salaries

A Payroll Processing Clerk III's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Payroll Processing Clerk Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Payroll Processing Clerk III's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Accounting Clerk I - Payroll (0-1 years): $45,433
  • Accounting Clerk II - Payroll (1-3 years): $50,798
  • Payroll Processing Clerk III (3-5 years): $56,978
  • Accounting Clerk IV - Payroll (5-7 years): $62,648
  • Payroll Operations Assistant Supervisor (7+ years): $88,982
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Accounting Clerk I - Payroll0-1 years$45,433
Accounting Clerk II - Payroll1-3 years$50,798
Payroll Processing Clerk III3-5 years$56,978
Accounting Clerk IV - Payroll5-7 years$62,648
Payroll Operations Assistant Supervisor7+ years$88,982
View as Graph

How Do Payroll Processing Clerk III Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Payroll Processing Clerk IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $63,090.
  • California: $62,890.
  • Massachusetts: $62,090.

Top Paying Cities for Payroll Processing Clerk IIIs

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $71,890
  • San Francisco: $71,090
  • Oakland: $69,590

What Skills Can Increase a Payroll Processing Clerk III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 5.95% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • HRIS (Mentioned in 2.23% Job Postings): HRIS is a management system designed specifically to provide managers with information to make HR decisions. Is a system that lets you keep track of all your employees and information about them.
  • Workday (Mentioned in 1.3% Job Postings): A cloud-based human resource management software system that unifies a wide range of HR functionality into a single system.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 5.95%
HRIS 2.23%
Workday 1.3%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Payroll Processing Clerk III's salary.

  • ADP Workforce Now: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
ADP Workforce Now $60,409
6%
Collaboration $59,840
5%
Leadership $59,840
5%
Get Latest Data

Payroll Processing Clerk III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Payroll Processing Clerk III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $63,623. While startup companies pay approximate $53,873.

Payroll Processing Clerk III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $53,873
Growth Stage 51~500 $56,964
Established 501~5000 $61,433
Enterprise 5000+ $63,623

Payroll Processing Clerk III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Payroll Processing Clerk III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 70% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Payroll Processing Clerk positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Payroll Processing Clerk III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Payroll Processing Clerk III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$74,087$36.030%
Internet$71,238$34.025%
Biotechnology$68,388$33.020%
Energy & Utilities$65,538$32.015%
Pharmaceuticals$65,538$32.015%

How Education impacts a Payroll Processing Clerk III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Payroll Processing Clerk IIIs enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Payroll Processing Clerk III with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $60,691 and $64,642).

Payroll Processing Clerk III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Payroll Processing Clerk III
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.6%
High School 49.0%
Associates 22.4%
Bachelors 25.0%
Masters 1.6%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Payroll Processing Clerk III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Payroll Processing Clerk III's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$51,290
Average $56,990/year
$62,690
$4,274
Average $4,749/month
$5,224
$986
Average $1,096/week
$1,206
$25
Average $27/hour
$30
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $62,690 $5,224 $1,206 $30
Average $56,990 $4,749 $1,096 $27
25th Percentile $51,290 $4,274 $986 $25

Payroll Processing Clerk III Salary Growth & Career Path

Payroll Processing Clerk III

Next Role

Advancement

For a Payroll Processing Clerk III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Accounting Clerk IV - Payroll role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $62,700 - a projected growth of 10% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Payroll Processing Clerk III

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Payroll Processing Clerk III

Here are companies hiring for Payroll Processing Clerk III and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Payroll Processing Clerk III Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Payroll Processing Clerk III job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Payroll Processing Clerk III

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Payroll Processing Clerk III?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Payroll Processing Clerk III roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

2. What is the highest salary of a clerk?

The highest salary for a Payroll Processing Clerk is $72,490 annually. The salary range typically falls between $57,890 (minimum) and $64,990 (midpoint), reflecting the varying levels of experience and responsibility within the role.

3. What are the three grades of a clerk?

Grades of Clerks include Clerical Officer, Clerical Assistant, and Senior Clerk. The salary range for a Payroll Processing Clerk is as follows: Minimum Salary is $57,890, Mid Salary is $64,990, and Maximum Salary is $72,490.

4. How much does a Level 3 earn in USA?

How much does a Level 3 make? Based on the salary data for a Payroll Processing Clerk, the annual pay ranges from $57,890 to $72,490, with a mid-salary of $64,990. This translates to approximately $27.80 to $34.85 per hour, or $1,115 to $1,395 per week, and $4,833 to $6,033 per month.

5. What level is a payroll clerk?

A payroll clerk typically starts at an entry-level position, requiring a high school diploma or GED. While advanced qualifications like a certificate or associate degree in accounting or finance can be beneficial, they are not always necessary. Salaries for payroll clerks range from $57,890 to $72,490, with a mid-salary of $64,990.

6. What is a level 3 pay grade?

A Level 3 pay grade typically offers a salary range that may exceed the average for certain positions. For a Payroll Processing Clerk, the salary ranges from $57,890 to $72,490 annually, with a midpoint of $64,990. This suggests that while some Level 3 positions may offer higher salaries, the compensation for this role is more modest compared to other Level 3 roles in different states.

7. How much is US pay per hour?

As of January 26, 2025, the average hourly pay for a Payroll Processing Clerk in the United States ranges from approximately $27.84 to $34.85, based on a minimum salary of $57,890, a mid-salary of $64,990, and a maximum salary of $72,490. This reflects a competitive wage within the profession.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst
lower level job