What are the main factors that influence a Payroll Clerk I's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

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.

How does experience change A Payroll Clerk 's salary?

A Payroll Clerk 's salary grows with experience: a Payroll Clerk I (0-1 years)earns $46,017, a Payroll Clerk II (1-3 years)earns $51,440, a Payroll Clerk III (3-5 years)earns $57,690, a Payroll Clerk IV (5-7 years)earns $63,438, a Payroll Team Lead (7+ years)earns $90,078,

What are the highest paying states for a Payroll Clerk I?

Payroll Clerk I salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Payroll Clerk I roles are District of Columbia $50,311, California $50,120, Massachusetts $49,452. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Payroll Clerk roles make?

Salaries for Payroll Clerk level roles vary by specialization: Payroll Clerk IV: $62,642; Payroll Administrator I: $62,502; Payroll Clerk: $57,199; Payroll Clerk III: $56,967; Payroll, Benefits Clerk: $54,900.

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Payroll Clerk I Salary in Delaware

How much does a Payroll Clerk I make in Delaware?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Payroll Clerk I in Delaware is $46,017 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $22.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $51,100
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $41,672 to $48,677
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $37,715

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Payroll Clerk I Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$48,677	$4,056	$936	$23
Average	$46,017	$3,835	$885	$22
25th Percentile	$41,672	$3,473	$801	$20

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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): $46,017
Payroll Clerk II (1-3 years): $51,440
Payroll Clerk III (3-5 years): $57,690
Payroll Clerk IV (5-7 years): $63,438
Payroll Team Lead (7+ years): $90,078

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Payroll Clerk I	0-1 years	$46,017
Payroll Clerk II	1-3 years	$51,440
Payroll Clerk III	3-5 years	$57,690
Payroll Clerk IV	5-7 years	$63,438
Payroll Team Lead	7+ years	$90,078

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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:

District of Columbia: $50,311.
California: $50,120.
Massachusetts: $49,452.

District of Columbia $50,311 California $50,120 Massachusetts $49,452 Washington $49,271 New Jersey $49,252 Alaska $49,189 Connecticut $48,562 New York $48,307

Hawaii $47,494 Rhode Island $47,112 Maryland $46,853 Minnesota $46,499 Colorado $46,362 Illinois $46,317 Oregon $46,144 Delaware $46,017

New Hampshire $45,937 Virginia $45,758 Pennsylvania $45,236 Nevada $44,972 North Dakota $44,886 Michigan $44,749 Wisconsin $44,699 Vermont $44,599

Texas $44,322 Maine $44,304 Arizona $44,277 Ohio $44,245 Georgia $43,827 Indiana $43,618 Wyoming $43,577 Utah $43,513

Iowa $43,486 Kansas $43,268 Louisiana $43,204 North Carolina $43,182 Missouri $43,173 Florida $42,995 Montana $42,900 Nebraska $42,809

Kentucky $42,759 South Carolina $42,577 Tennessee $42,464 Idaho $42,418 New Mexico $42,087 Oklahoma $42,014 Alabama $41,746 South Dakota $41,296

Arkansas $41,050 West Virginia $40,919 Mississippi $40,523

Top Paying Cities for Payroll Clerk Is

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:

Lincoln: $45,810
Little Creek: $46,145
Magnolia: $46,079

Lincoln, DE $45,810 Little Creek, DE $46,145 Magnolia, DE $46,079 Milford, DE $45,926 Marydel, DE $46,002 Millsboro, DE $45,618 Millville, DE $45,688 Milton, DE $45,767

Nassau, DE $45,800 Ocean View, DE $45,680 Rehoboth Beach, DE $45,768 Seaford, DE $45,794 Selbyville, DE $45,604 Smyrna, DE $46,177 Viola, DE $45,964 Woodside, DE $46,088

Bear, DE $45,982 Newark, DE $45,964 Claymont, DE $46,058 Delaware City, DE $46,010 Hockessin, DE $45,960 Kirkwood, DE $46,002 Middletown, DE $46,019 Montchanin, DE $45,971

New Castle, DE $45,978 Odessa, DE $46,042 Port Penn, DE $46,073 Rockland, DE $45,975 Saint Georges, DE $46,005 Townsend, DE $46,076 Winterthur, DE $45,981 Lewes, DE $45,785

Wilmington, DE $45,963 Dover, DE $46,145 Dover Afb, DE $45,902 Bethany Beach, DE $45,632 Bethel, DE $45,679 Bridgeville, DE $45,787 Camden Wyoming, DE $46,015 Cheswold, DE $46,130

Clayton, DE $46,132 Dagsboro, DE $45,600 Delmar, DE $45,527 Ellendale, DE $45,665 Felton, DE $45,923 Fenwick Island, DE $45,610 Frankford, DE $45,531 Frederica, DE $45,968

Georgetown, DE $45,583 Greenwood, DE $45,794 Harbeson, DE $45,632 Harrington, DE $45,864 Hartly, DE $46,007 Houston, DE $45,799 Kenton, DE $46,134 Laurel, DE $45,556

Yorklyn, DE $45,974

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 $51,470. While startup companies pay approximate $43,528.

Payroll Clerk I Salary by Company Size

Company Size	Employees	Average Salary
Startup	1~50	$43,528
Growth Stage	51~500	$46,038
Established	501~5000	$49,704
Enterprise	5000+	$51,470

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	$55,221	$27.0	20%
Biotechnology	$52,920	$25.0	15%
Healthcare	$51,539	$25.0	12%
Business Services	$50,619	$24.0	10%
Financial Services	$50,619	$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.

Last Updated on July 01, 2026

$41,672

Average $46,017/year

$48,677

$3,473

Average $3,835/month

$4,056

$801

Average $885/week

$936

$20

Average $22/hour

$23

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$48,677	$4,056	$936	$23
Average	$46,017	$3,835	$885	$22
25th Percentile	$41,672	$3,473	$801	$20

Payroll Clerk I Salary Growth & Career Path

Payroll Clerk I

Payroll Clerk II

Payroll Manager

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 $51,440 - a projected growth of 12% over your current level.

Salaries of jobs related to Payroll Clerk I

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