Key Factors That Influence Payroll Clerk III Salaries
A Payroll 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 Clerk Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Payroll 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:
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 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 Clerk IIIs.
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: $71,852
San Francisco: $71,066
Oakland: $69,568
San Jose, CA$71,852
San Francisco, CA$71,066
Oakland, CA$69,568
New York, NY$65,591
Paramus, NJ$64,794
Queens Village, NY$64,791
Passaic, NJ$64,737
Bergenfield, NJ$64,732
Stamford, CT$64,606
Huntington, NY$64,583
Newark, NJ$64,162
Bridgeport, CT$64,042
Vallejo, CA$63,928
New Brunswick, NJ$63,906
Petaluma, CA$63,871
Middlesex, NJ$63,763
Somerset, NJ$63,723
Santa Cruz, CA$63,649
Boston, MA$63,302
Monterey, CA$63,102
Seattle, WA$62,971
Santa Rosa, CA$62,960
Los Angeles, CA$62,943
Juneau, AK$62,795
Washington, DC$62,732
Orange, CA$62,529
Santa Ana, CA$62,379
Long Beach, CA$62,322
Anaheim, CA$62,311
Anchorage, AK$62,282
Santa Maria, CA$62,111
Everett, WA$62,100
Danbury, CT$61,899
Bremerton, WA$61,821
Tacoma, WA$61,616
New Suffolk, NY$61,614
Sacramento, CA$61,598
Santa Barbara, CA$61,536
Trenton, NJ$61,473
San Diego, CA$61,473
Brockton, MA$61,410
Fairbanks, AK$61,271
Lompoc, CA$61,126
Lowell, MA$61,079
Ventura, CA$61,069
Nashua, NH$61,057
Stockton, CA$61,052
Modesto, CA$60,636
Poughkeepsie, NY$60,510
Olympia, WA$60,402
Kennewick, WA$60,402
New Haven, CT$60,379
Lawrence, MA$60,174
Hartford, CT$60,117
Riverside, CA$60,106
New Bedford, MA$60,049
Richland, WA$60,049
Bakersfield, CA$59,969
San Bernardino, CA$59,946
New Britain, CT$59,941
Atlantic City, NJ$59,941
New London, CT$59,918
Norwich, CT$59,901
Portsmouth, NH$59,889
Boulder, CO$59,769
Portland, OR$59,690
Worcester, MA$59,684
Minneapolis, MN$59,508
Philadelphia, PA$59,428
Honolulu, HI$59,240
Saint Paul, MN$59,213
Vineland, NJ$59,200
Providence, RI$59,035
Chicago, IL$58,870
Bellingham, WA$58,801
Springfield, MA$58,756
Baltimore, MD$58,739
Chico, CA$58,596
Pittsfield, MA$58,442
Manchester, NH$58,334
Spokane, WA$58,084
Denver, CO$58,078
Albany, NY$57,810
Troy, NY$57,787
Nassau, NY$57,726
Schenectady, NY$57,668
Wilmington, DE$57,622
Burlington, VT$57,542
Salem, OR$57,520
Portland, ME$57,343
Yakima, WA$57,286
Rochester, MN$57,109
Reno, NV$57,081
Fresno, CA$57,081
Milwaukee, WI$57,030
Detroit, MI$56,973
Ann Arbor, MI$56,963
Allentown, PA$56,956
Colorado Springs, CO$56,859
Syracuse, NY$56,830
Carson City, NV$56,830
Houston, TX$56,751
Eugene, OR$56,722
Gary, IN$56,654
Springfield, OR$56,608
Bismarck, ND$56,597
Galveston, TX$56,557
Medford, OR$56,471
Fort Collins, CO$56,449
Concord, NH$56,420
Austin, TX$56,403
Mesa, AZ$56,283
Reading, PA$56,278
Phoenix, AZ$56,272
Dallas, TX$56,255
Saint Cloud, MN$56,200
Madison, WI$56,124
Utica, NY$55,970
Rochester, NY$55,879
Des Moines, IA$55,873
Raleigh, NC$55,868
Atlanta, GA$55,782
Battle Creek, MI$55,765
Salt Lake City, UT$55,748
Lancaster, PA$55,662
Harrisburg, PA$55,583
Kansas City, MO$55,526
Champaign, IL$55,514
Kansas City, KS$55,514
Fort Worth, TX$55,509
Columbus, OH$55,499
Boca Raton, FL$55,486
Pittsburgh, PA$55,463
Richmond, VA$55,440
Indianapolis, IN$55,429
Cleveland, OH$55,423
Las Vegas, NV$55,355
Cincinnati, OH$55,355
Petersburg, VA$55,269
Huntsville, AL$55,184
Lansing, MI$55,146
Lebanon, PA$55,138
Pueblo, CO$55,133
Appleton, WI$55,116
Buffalo, NY$55,093
Dayton, OH$55,076
Racine, WI$55,064
Charlotte, NC$55,059
Saint Louis, MO$55,042
York, PA$55,007
Elkhart, IN$55,007
Gastonia, NC$54,997
Billings, MT$54,983
Beaumont, TX$54,967
Lorain, OH$54,956
Benton Harbor, MI$54,945
Toledo, OH$54,933
Binghamton, NY$54,905
Rock Hill, SC$54,899
Rockford, IL$54,871
Springfield, IL$54,848
Elyria, OH$54,842
Fargo, ND$54,842
Flagstaff, AZ$54,802
Fort Lauderdale, FL$54,768
Duluth, MN$54,734
Miami, FL$54,734
Cheyenne, WY$54,694
Grand Forks, ND$54,694
Bangor, ME$54,569
Cedar Rapids, IA$54,506
Durham, NC$54,482
Louisville, KY$54,478
Grand Rapids, MI$54,466
Hialeah, FL$54,460
Casper, WY$54,381
Scranton, PA$54,312
New Orleans, LA$54,295
Virginia Beach, VA$54,290
Akron, OH$54,261
Peoria, IL$54,187
Sarasota, FL$54,176
Nashville, TN$54,136
Omaha, NE$54,136
Green Bay, WI$54,136
Baton Rouge, LA$54,107
Charleston, SC$54,096
Jamestown, NY$54,067
Davenport, IA$54,067
Tucson, AZ$54,039
Saint Petersburg, FL$54,005
Tampa, FL$53,993
Evansville, IN$53,959
Port Arthur, TX$53,959
Bradenton, FL$53,936
Santa Fe, NM$53,834
Orlando, FL$53,731
Clearwater, FL$53,714
Canton, OH$53,595
La Crosse, WI$53,595
Albuquerque, NM$53,560
Newport News, VA$53,555
High Point, NC$53,538
Ogden, UT$53,515
Corpus Christi, TX$53,469
Norfolk, VA$53,435
Laramie, WY$53,435
Rock Island, IL$53,401
Saginaw, MI$53,389
Jacksonville, FL$53,384
Salisbury, NC$53,372
Boise, ID$53,361
Moline, IL$53,333
Fort Myers, FL$53,315
Memphis, TN$53,304
Tulsa, OK$53,276
Waterloo, IA$53,241
Spartanburg, SC$53,184
Lincoln, NE$53,156
Fort Wayne, IN$53,145
Provo, UT$53,139
Cedar Falls, IA$53,070
San Antonio, TX$53,048
Greensboro, NC$53,025
South Bend, IN$53,019
Savannah, GA$52,957
Muskegon, MI$52,934
Birmingham, AL$52,928
Winston Salem, NC$52,900
Lake Charles, LA$52,763
Anderson, IN$52,751
Lexington, KY$52,734
Augusta, GA$52,717
Greenville, SC$52,717
Lima, OH$52,672
Wichita, KS$52,666
Tuscaloosa, AL$52,666
Columbia, SC$52,615
Springfield, OH$52,603
Asheville, NC$52,512
Bloomington, IN$52,472
Knoxville, TN$52,267
Shreveport, LA$52,262
Wilmington, NC$52,187
Roanoke, VA$52,187
Topeka, KS$52,085
Frankfort, KY$52,079
Oklahoma City, OK$52,039
Chillicothe, OH$52,017
Longview, TX$52,011
Melbourne, FL$52,005
Sioux Falls, SD$51,914
Mobile, AL$51,908
Terre Haute, IN$51,886
Altoona, PA$51,851
Amarillo, TX$51,811
Killeen, TX$51,794
Fayetteville, AR$51,749
Chattanooga, TN$51,732
Sioux City, IA$51,680
Idaho Falls, ID$51,669
Lynchburg, VA$51,623
Gainesville, FL$51,549
Portsmouth, OH$51,521
Little Rock, AR$51,510
Lafayette, LA$51,487
Youngstown, OH$51,487
Daytona Beach, FL$51,453
Clarksville, TN$51,447
Pensacola, FL$51,441
Temple, TX$51,437
Hopkinsville, KY$51,270
Erie, PA$51,259
Florence, SC$51,236
Charleston, WV$51,145
Great Falls, MT$51,116
Macon, GA$51,037
Tallahassee, FL$51,031
Fayetteville, NC$51,020
Waco, TX$51,008
Helena, MT$50,968
Pine Bluff, AR$50,947
Vincennes, IN$50,877
Lubbock, TX$50,854
Alamogordo, NM$50,820
Twin Falls, ID$50,769
Rapid City, SD$50,752
Jackson, MS$50,649
Huntington, WV$50,645
Greenville, MS$50,644
Parkersburg, WV$50,586
Montgomery, AL$50,575
Wichita Falls, TX$50,518
Springfield, MO$50,518
Biloxi, MS$50,490
Monroe, LA$50,433
Johnstown, PA$50,393
Sumter, SC$50,370
Columbus, GA$50,365
Pascagoula, MS$50,256
Abilene, TX$50,256
Kingsport, TN$50,108
Albany, GA$50,108
Gulfport, MS$50,091
Alexandria, LA$49,903
Fort Smith, AR$49,761
El Paso, TX$49,607
Las Cruces, NM$49,351
Harlingen, TX$49,206
Pocatello, ID$49,197
Florence, AL$49,123
Brownsville, TX$49,111
Mcallen, TX$48,992
Dothan, AL$48,912
Columbus, MS$48,573
Altus, OK$48,308
Lawton, OK$48,200
Pierre, SD$47,995
What Skills Can Increase a Payroll 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.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Customer Service
5.95%
HRIS
2.23%
Workday
1.3%
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 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
$60,385
6%
Collaboration
$59,815
5%
Leadership
$59,815
5%
Process Improvement
$59,815
5%
Workday
$59,246
4%
HRIS
$59,246
4%
Get Latest Data
Payroll Clerk III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Payroll Clerk III salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $63,717.
While startup companies pay approximate $53,886.
Payroll Clerk III Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$53,886
Growth Stage
51~500
$56,992
Established
501~5000
$61,531
Enterprise
5000+
$63,717
Payroll Clerk III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Payroll 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 Clerk positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Payroll Clerk III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Payroll Clerk III
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services
$74,057
$36.0
30%
Internet
$71,209
$34.0
25%
Biotechnology
$68,360
$33.0
20%
Energy & Utilities
$65,512
$31.0
15%
Pharmaceuticals
$65,512
$31.0
15%
How Education impacts a Payroll Clerk III's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Payroll 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 Clerk III with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between
$60,969
and $64,955).
Payroll Clerk III Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Payroll Clerk III
No Diploma1.6%
High School49.0%
Associates22.4%
Bachelors25.0%
Masters1.6%
Doctorate0.0%
view as table
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 Clerk III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Payroll 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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$51,215
Average$56,967/year
$62,684
$4,268
Average$4,747/month
$5,224
$985
Average$1,096/week
$1,205
$25
Average$27/hour
$30
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$62,684
$5,224
$1,205
$30
Average
$56,967
$4,747
$1,096
$27
25th Percentile
$51,215
$4,268
$985
$25
Payroll Clerk III Salary Growth & Career Path
For a Payroll Clerk III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Payroll Clerk IV role.
This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to
$62,642 - a projected growth of
10%
over your current level.
Salaries for a Payroll Clerk III can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $48,874 in 2023
to around $48,791 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Payroll Clerk III salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Payroll Clerk III Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$48,874
2024
$49,075
2025
$48,791
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$48,874
2024
$49,075
2025
$48,791
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Payroll Clerk III
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Payroll Clerk III
Here are companies hiring for Payroll Clerk III 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 III
1. Where can a Payroll Clerk III earn the most?
A Payroll Clerk III'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 III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Payroll Clerk III is $71,852.
2. What is the highest pay for Payroll Clerk III?
The highest pay for Payroll Clerk III is $67,889.
3. What is the lowest pay for Payroll Clerk III?
The lowest pay for Payroll Clerk III is $45,978.
4. What are the responsibilities of Payroll Clerk III?
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 independently within established procedures associated with the specific job function. Has gained proficiency in multiple competencies relevant to the job. Typically requires 3-5 years of related experience.
5. What industry pays the highest salary for Payroll Clerk III?
The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Payroll Clerk III roles,
with salaries approximately 30% 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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