Key Factors That Influence Payroll Clerk I Salaries
A Payroll Clerk I'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, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Payroll Clerk Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Payroll Clerk I'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:
Payroll Clerk I (0-1 years): $45,440
Payroll Clerk II (1-3 years): $50,795
Payroll Clerk III (3-5 years): $56,967
Payroll Clerk IV (5-7 years): $62,642
Payroll Team Lead (7+ years): $88,948
Job Role
Years of Experience
Average Salary
Payroll Clerk I
0-1 years
$45,440
Payroll Clerk II
1-3 years
$50,795
Payroll Clerk III
3-5 years
$56,967
Payroll Clerk IV
5-7 years
$62,642
Payroll Team Lead
7+ years
$88,948
$45,440Payroll C...
$50,795Payroll C...
$56,967Payroll C...
$62,642Payroll C...
$88,948Payroll T...
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Payroll Clerk I 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 Clerk Is.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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: $57,313
San Francisco: $56,686
Oakland: $55,491
San Jose, CA$57,313
San Francisco, CA$56,686
Oakland, CA$55,491
New York, NY$52,319
Paramus, NJ$51,683
Queens Village, NY$51,681
Passaic, NJ$51,638
Bergenfield, NJ$51,633
Stamford, CT$51,534
Huntington, NY$51,515
Newark, NJ$51,179
Bridgeport, CT$51,083
Vallejo, CA$50,993
New Brunswick, NJ$50,975
Petaluma, CA$50,947
Middlesex, NJ$50,861
Somerset, NJ$50,829
Santa Cruz, CA$50,770
Boston, MA$50,493
Monterey, CA$50,333
Seattle, WA$50,229
Santa Rosa, CA$50,220
Los Angeles, CA$50,207
Juneau, AK$50,089
Washington, DC$50,039
Orange, CA$49,877
Santa Ana, CA$49,757
Long Beach, CA$49,711
Anaheim, CA$49,702
Anchorage, AK$49,680
Santa Maria, CA$49,543
Everett, WA$49,534
Danbury, CT$49,374
Bremerton, WA$49,311
Tacoma, WA$49,148
New Suffolk, NY$49,147
Sacramento, CA$49,134
Santa Barbara, CA$49,084
Trenton, NJ$49,034
San Diego, CA$49,034
Brockton, MA$48,984
Fairbanks, AK$48,873
Lompoc, CA$48,757
Lowell, MA$48,720
Ventura, CA$48,712
Nashua, NH$48,703
Stockton, CA$48,698
Modesto, CA$48,366
Poughkeepsie, NY$48,266
Olympia, WA$48,180
Kennewick, WA$48,180
New Haven, CT$48,162
Lawrence, MA$47,998
Hartford, CT$47,953
Riverside, CA$47,944
New Bedford, MA$47,898
Richland, WA$47,898
Bakersfield, CA$47,835
San Bernardino, CA$47,817
New Britain, CT$47,812
Atlantic City, NJ$47,812
New London, CT$47,794
Norwich, CT$47,780
Portsmouth, NH$47,771
Boulder, CO$47,675
Portland, OR$47,612
Worcester, MA$47,607
Minneapolis, MN$47,467
Philadelphia, PA$47,403
Honolulu, HI$47,253
Saint Paul, MN$47,231
Vineland, NJ$47,221
Providence, RI$47,089
Chicago, IL$46,958
Bellingham, WA$46,903
Springfield, MA$46,867
Baltimore, MD$46,853
Chico, CA$46,740
Pittsfield, MA$46,617
Manchester, NH$46,531
Spokane, WA$46,331
Denver, CO$46,326
Albany, NY$46,113
Troy, NY$46,094
Nassau, NY$46,046
Schenectady, NY$45,999
Wilmington, DE$45,963
Burlington, VT$45,899
Salem, OR$45,881
Portland, ME$45,740
Yakima, WA$45,694
Rochester, MN$45,554
Reno, NV$45,531
Fresno, CA$45,531
Milwaukee, WI$45,490
Detroit, MI$45,445
Ann Arbor, MI$45,437
Allentown, PA$45,431
Colorado Springs, CO$45,354
Syracuse, NY$45,331
Carson City, NV$45,331
Houston, TX$45,267
Eugene, OR$45,245
Gary, IN$45,190
Springfield, OR$45,154
Bismarck, ND$45,145
Galveston, TX$45,113
Medford, OR$45,045
Fort Collins, CO$45,026
Concord, NH$45,004
Austin, TX$44,990
Mesa, AZ$44,895
Reading, PA$44,890
Phoenix, AZ$44,886
Dallas, TX$44,872
Saint Cloud, MN$44,828
Madison, WI$44,767
Utica, NY$44,645
Rochester, NY$44,572
Des Moines, IA$44,568
Raleigh, NC$44,563
Atlanta, GA$44,495
Battle Creek, MI$44,481
Salt Lake City, UT$44,468
Lancaster, PA$44,399
Harrisburg, PA$44,336
Kansas City, MO$44,290
Champaign, IL$44,281
Kansas City, KS$44,281
Fort Worth, TX$44,277
Columbus, OH$44,269
Boca Raton, FL$44,259
Pittsburgh, PA$44,240
Richmond, VA$44,222
Indianapolis, IN$44,213
Cleveland, OH$44,209
Las Vegas, NV$44,154
Cincinnati, OH$44,154
Petersburg, VA$44,086
Huntsville, AL$44,018
Lansing, MI$43,987
Lebanon, PA$43,981
Pueblo, CO$43,977
Appleton, WI$43,963
Buffalo, NY$43,945
Dayton, OH$43,931
Racine, WI$43,922
Charlotte, NC$43,918
Saint Louis, MO$43,904
York, PA$43,877
Elkhart, IN$43,877
Gastonia, NC$43,868
Billings, MT$43,857
Beaumont, TX$43,845
Lorain, OH$43,836
Benton Harbor, MI$43,827
Toledo, OH$43,818
Binghamton, NY$43,795
Rock Hill, SC$43,791
Rockford, IL$43,768
Springfield, IL$43,750
Elyria, OH$43,745
Fargo, ND$43,745
Flagstaff, AZ$43,713
Fort Lauderdale, FL$43,686
Duluth, MN$43,659
Miami, FL$43,659
Cheyenne, WY$43,627
Grand Forks, ND$43,627
Bangor, ME$43,527
Cedar Rapids, IA$43,477
Durham, NC$43,458
Louisville, KY$43,454
Grand Rapids, MI$43,445
Hialeah, FL$43,441
Casper, WY$43,377
Scranton, PA$43,322
New Orleans, LA$43,309
Virginia Beach, VA$43,304
Akron, OH$43,282
Peoria, IL$43,223
Sarasota, FL$43,213
Nashville, TN$43,182
Omaha, NE$43,182
Green Bay, WI$43,182
Baton Rouge, LA$43,159
Charleston, SC$43,150
Jamestown, NY$43,127
Davenport, IA$43,127
Tucson, AZ$43,104
Saint Petersburg, FL$43,077
Tampa, FL$43,068
Evansville, IN$43,041
Port Arthur, TX$43,041
Bradenton, FL$43,023
Santa Fe, NM$42,941
Orlando, FL$42,859
Clearwater, FL$42,845
Canton, OH$42,750
La Crosse, WI$42,750
Albuquerque, NM$42,723
Newport News, VA$42,718
High Point, NC$42,705
Ogden, UT$42,686
Corpus Christi, TX$42,650
Norfolk, VA$42,623
Laramie, WY$42,623
Rock Island, IL$42,595
Saginaw, MI$42,586
Jacksonville, FL$42,582
Salisbury, NC$42,573
Boise, ID$42,564
Moline, IL$42,541
Fort Myers, FL$42,527
Memphis, TN$42,518
Tulsa, OK$42,495
Waterloo, IA$42,468
Spartanburg, SC$42,423
Lincoln, NE$42,400
Fort Wayne, IN$42,391
Provo, UT$42,386
Cedar Falls, IA$42,332
San Antonio, TX$42,314
Greensboro, NC$42,296
South Bend, IN$42,291
Savannah, GA$42,241
Muskegon, MI$42,223
Birmingham, AL$42,218
Winston Salem, NC$42,196
Lake Charles, LA$42,087
Anderson, IN$42,077
Lexington, KY$42,064
Augusta, GA$42,050
Greenville, SC$42,050
Lima, OH$42,014
Wichita, KS$42,009
Tuscaloosa, AL$42,009
Columbia, SC$41,968
Springfield, OH$41,959
Asheville, NC$41,887
Bloomington, IN$41,855
Knoxville, TN$41,691
Shreveport, LA$41,687
Wilmington, NC$41,628
Roanoke, VA$41,628
Topeka, KS$41,546
Frankfort, KY$41,541
Oklahoma City, OK$41,509
Chillicothe, OH$41,491
Longview, TX$41,487
Melbourne, FL$41,482
Sioux Falls, SD$41,409
Mobile, AL$41,405
Terre Haute, IN$41,387
Altoona, PA$41,359
Amarillo, TX$41,328
Killeen, TX$41,314
Fayetteville, AR$41,278
Chattanooga, TN$41,264
Sioux City, IA$41,223
Idaho Falls, ID$41,214
Lynchburg, VA$41,178
Gainesville, FL$41,119
Portsmouth, OH$41,096
Little Rock, AR$41,087
Lafayette, LA$41,069
Youngstown, OH$41,069
Daytona Beach, FL$41,041
Clarksville, TN$41,037
Pensacola, FL$41,032
Temple, TX$41,029
Hopkinsville, KY$40,896
Erie, PA$40,887
Florence, SC$40,869
Charleston, WV$40,796
Great Falls, MT$40,773
Macon, GA$40,710
Tallahassee, FL$40,705
Fayetteville, NC$40,696
Waco, TX$40,687
Helena, MT$40,655
Pine Bluff, AR$40,638
Vincennes, IN$40,582
Lubbock, TX$40,564
Alamogordo, NM$40,537
Twin Falls, ID$40,496
Rapid City, SD$40,482
Jackson, MS$40,401
Huntington, WV$40,398
Greenville, MS$40,396
Parkersburg, WV$40,350
Montgomery, AL$40,342
Wichita Falls, TX$40,296
Springfield, MO$40,296
Biloxi, MS$40,273
Monroe, LA$40,228
Johnstown, PA$40,196
Sumter, SC$40,178
Columbus, GA$40,174
Pascagoula, MS$40,087
Abilene, TX$40,087
Kingsport, TN$39,969
Albany, GA$39,969
Gulfport, MS$39,955
Alexandria, LA$39,805
Fort Smith, AR$39,692
El Paso, TX$39,569
Las Cruces, NM$39,365
Harlingen, TX$39,249
Pocatello, ID$39,242
Florence, AL$39,183
Brownsville, TX$39,174
Mcallen, TX$39,078
Dothan, AL$39,015
Columbus, MS$38,745
Altus, OK$38,533
Lawton, OK$38,447
Pierre, SD$38,283
What Skills Can Increase a Payroll Clerk I's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Customer Service (Mentioned in 5.98% 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 2.21% 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 1.4% Job Postings): A cloud-based human resource management software system that unifies a wide range of HR functionality into a single system.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Customer Service
5.98%
HRIS
2.21%
Workday
1.4%
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 Clerk I's salary.
Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
Business Administration: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Innovation
$53,165
17%
Business Administration
$52,710
16%
Leadership
$51,802
14%
Consulting
$51,347
13%
Analytical Skills
$51,347
13%
General Ledger
$50,893
12%
Get Latest Data
Payroll Clerk I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Payroll Clerk I salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $50,824.
While startup companies pay approximate $42,982.
Payroll Clerk I Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$42,982
Growth Stage
51~500
$45,460
Established
501~5000
$49,081
Enterprise
5000+
$50,824
Payroll Clerk I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Payroll Clerk I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 35% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average.
In contrast, Payroll Clerk positions in MFG Durable or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Payroll Clerk I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Payroll Clerk I
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense
$54,528
$26.0
20%
Biotechnology
$52,256
$25.0
15%
Healthcare
$50,893
$24.0
12%
Business Services
$49,984
$24.0
10%
Financial Services
$49,984
$24.0
10%
Payroll Clerk I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Payroll Clerk I'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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$41,149
Average$45,440/year
$48,067
$3,429
Average$3,787/month
$4,006
$791
Average$874/week
$924
$20
Average$22/hour
$23
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$48,067
$4,006
$924
$23
Average
$45,440
$3,787
$874
$22
25th Percentile
$41,149
$3,429
$791
$20
Payroll Clerk I Salary Growth & Career Path
For a Payroll Clerk I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Payroll Clerk II role.
This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to
$50,795 - a projected growth of
12%
over your current level.
Salaries for a Payroll Clerk I can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $39,792 in 2023
to around $39,203 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Payroll Clerk I salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Payroll Clerk I Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$39,792
2024
$39,461
2025
$39,203
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$39,792
2024
$39,461
2025
$39,203
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Payroll Clerk I
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
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Common company salaries for Payroll Clerk I
Here are companies hiring for Payroll Clerk I and their salaries, click below for more details.
C
$128,509/per year
C R Bard Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
H
$124,697/per year
Henry Schein Canada
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$123,899/per year
Nordex Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$120,416/per year
Nipro Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$115,870/per year
Enovis
Biotechnology
the United States
A
$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy
Biotechnology
the United States
M
$112,110/per year
MiniMed Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug Development
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$110,229/per year
Life Technologies Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
Z
$106,224/per year
Zimmer Biomet
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$103,077/per year
Promontory Therapeutics
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$102,181/per year
Steris PLC
Biotechnology
the United States
G
$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicines
Biotechnology
the United States
R
$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLC
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$94,235/per year
Pleno Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$93,666/per year
Simulaids Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CAS
Biotechnology
the United States
O
$86,468/per year
Onward Technology
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$84,682/per year
Eyeco Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$84,523/per year
Paerosol
Biotechnology
the United States
I
$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$82,815/per year
Stateside PPE
Biotechnology
the United States
D
$82,041/per year
Digi Bio
Biotechnology
the United States
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FAQ about Payroll Clerk I
1. Where can a Payroll Clerk I earn the most?
A Payroll Clerk I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer.
According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Payroll Clerk I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Payroll Clerk I is $57,313.
2. What is the highest pay for Payroll Clerk I?
The highest pay for Payroll Clerk I is $50,459.
3. What is the lowest pay for Payroll Clerk I?
The lowest pay for Payroll Clerk I is $37,242.
4. What are the responsibilities of Payroll Clerk I?
Prepares and processes payroll and associated information. Collates and verifies data and inputs into the payroll system. Updates payroll records and processes routine changes to employee records. Performs basic reconciliation and auditing processes during each pay cycle. Responds to pay-related inquiries from staff. Researches and resolves errors or omissions. May prepare and submit reports and forms required by IRS or other regulatory bodies. Follows all processing procedures, adheres to policies, and maintains confidentiality. Typically requires a high school diploma or equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor. Works under the close direction of senior personnel in the functional area. Possesses a moderate understanding of general aspects of the job. May require 0-1 year of general work experience.
5. What industry pays the highest salary for Payroll Clerk I?
The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Payroll Clerk I roles,
with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.
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.
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