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

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Payroll Clerk roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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 $45,286, a Payroll Clerk II (1-3 years)earns $50,622, a Payroll Clerk (3-5 years)earns $56,773, a Payroll Clerk IV (5-7 years)earns $62,429, a Payroll Team Lead (7+ years)earns $88,646,

What are the highest paying states for a Payroll Clerk?

Payroll Clerk salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Payroll Clerk roles are District of Columbia $63,330, California $63,090, Massachusetts $62,249. 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 Clerk III: $56,967; Payroll, Benefits Clerk: $54,900; Ap Clerk/Payroll Clerk: $52,395; Accounting Payroll Clerk: $51,494.

How do different companies affect a Payroll Clerk's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Payroll Clerk roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Payroll Clerk Salary in the United States

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

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Payroll Clerk in the United States is $57,199 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $68,246
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $51,554 to $62,981
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $46,415

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2026 Compensation Trend

Smart Recruiting

AI-Powered HR

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Payroll Clerk Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$62,981	$5,248	$1,211	$30
Average	$57,199	$4,767	$1,100	$27
25th Percentile	$51,554	$4,296	$991	$25

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Payroll Clerk Job Openings in the United States

Payroll Clerk

CFS - Middletown, OH

Payroll Clerk

SCHWEBEL BAKING - Youngstown, OH

Payroll Clerk

CFS - Canton, OH

Payroll Clerk

The Salvation Army - Cincinnati, OH

Search More Payroll Clerk Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Payroll Clerk Salaries

A Payroll Clerk'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'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:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $45,286
Early Career (1-2 years): $50,622
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $56,773
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $62,429
Expert (over 8 years): $88,646

Levels	Salary
Payroll C... Level Payroll Clerk	$45,286
Payroll C... Level Payroll Clerk	$50,622
Payroll C... Level Payroll Clerk	$56,773
Payroll C... Level Payroll Clerk	$62,429
Payroll T... Level Payroll Clerk	$88,646

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Payroll Clerk 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 Clerks. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $63,330.
California: $63,090.
Massachusetts: $62,249.

District of Columbia $63,330 California $63,090 Massachusetts $62,249 Washington $62,020 New Jersey $61,997 Alaska $61,917 Connecticut $61,128 New York $60,808

Hawaii $59,784 Rhode Island $59,303 Maryland $58,977 Minnesota $58,531 Colorado $58,360 Illinois $58,302 Oregon $58,085 Delaware $57,925

New Hampshire $57,824 Virginia $57,599 Pennsylvania $56,941 Nevada $56,609 North Dakota $56,501 Michigan $56,329 Wisconsin $56,266 Vermont $56,140

Texas $55,791 Maine $55,769 Arizona $55,734 Ohio $55,694 Georgia $55,168 Indiana $54,905 Wyoming $54,853 Utah $54,773

Iowa $54,739 Kansas $54,464 Louisiana $54,384 North Carolina $54,356 Missouri $54,344 Florida $54,121 Montana $54,001 Nebraska $53,887

Kentucky $53,824 South Carolina $53,595 Tennessee $53,452 Idaho $53,395 New Mexico $52,977 Oklahoma $52,886 Alabama $52,548 South Dakota $51,982

Arkansas $51,673 West Virginia $51,507 Mississippi $51,010

Top Paying Cities for Payroll Clerks

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: $72,144
San Francisco: $71,355
Oakland: $69,851

San Jose, CA $72,144

San Francisco, CA $71,355

Oakland, CA $69,851

New York, NY $65,858

Paramus, NJ $65,057

Queens Village, NY $65,054

Passaic, NJ $65,000

Bergenfield, NJ $64,995

Stamford, CT $64,869

Huntington, NY $64,845

Newark, NJ $64,423

Bridgeport, CT $64,302

Vallejo, CA $64,188

New Brunswick, NJ $64,165

Petaluma, CA $64,131

Middlesex, NJ $64,022

Somerset, NJ $63,982

Santa Cruz, CA $63,908

Boston, MA $63,559

Monterey, CA $63,358

Seattle, WA $63,227

Santa Rosa, CA $63,216

Los Angeles, CA $63,199

Juneau, AK $63,050

Washington, DC $62,987

Orange, CA $62,783

Santa Ana, CA $62,632

Long Beach, CA $62,575

Anaheim, CA $62,564

Anchorage, AK $62,535

Santa Maria, CA $62,364

Everett, WA $62,352

Danbury, CT $62,151

Bremerton, WA $62,072

Tacoma, WA $61,866

New Suffolk, NY $61,865

Sacramento, CA $61,849

Santa Barbara, CA $61,786

Trenton, NJ $61,723

San Diego, CA $61,723

Brockton, MA $61,660

Fairbanks, AK $61,520

Lompoc, CA $61,374

Lowell, MA $61,328

Ventura, CA $61,317

Nashua, NH $61,305

Stockton, CA $61,300

Modesto, CA $60,882

Poughkeepsie, NY $60,756

Olympia, WA $60,648

Kennewick, WA $60,648

New Haven, CT $60,625

Lawrence, MA $60,419

Hartford, CT $60,362

Riverside, CA $60,350

New Bedford, MA $60,293

Richland, WA $60,293

Bakersfield, CA $60,213

San Bernardino, CA $60,190

New Britain, CT $60,184

Atlantic City, NJ $60,184

New London, CT $60,161

Norwich, CT $60,144

Portsmouth, NH $60,133

Boulder, CO $60,012

Portland, OR $59,933

Worcester, MA $59,927

Minneapolis, MN $59,750

Philadelphia, PA $59,669

Honolulu, HI $59,481

Saint Paul, MN $59,453

Vineland, NJ $59,441

Providence, RI $59,275

Chicago, IL $59,109

Bellingham, WA $59,040

Springfield, MA $58,995

Baltimore, MD $58,977

Chico, CA $58,834

Pittsfield, MA $58,680

Manchester, NH $58,571

Spokane, WA $58,320

Denver, CO $58,314

Albany, NY $58,045

Troy, NY $58,022

Nassau, NY $57,961

Schenectady, NY $57,902

Wilmington, DE $57,856

Burlington, VT $57,776

Salem, OR $57,753

Portland, ME $57,576

Yakima, WA $57,519

Rochester, MN $57,341

Reno, NV $57,313

Fresno, CA $57,313

Milwaukee, WI $57,261

Detroit, MI $57,204

Ann Arbor, MI $57,194

Allentown, PA $57,187

Colorado Springs, CO $57,090

Syracuse, NY $57,061

Carson City, NV $57,061

Houston, TX $56,981

Eugene, OR $56,953

Gary, IN $56,884

Springfield, OR $56,838

Bismarck, ND $56,827

Galveston, TX $56,787

Medford, OR $56,701

Fort Collins, CO $56,678

Concord, NH $56,649

Austin, TX $56,632

Mesa, AZ $56,512

Reading, PA $56,506

Phoenix, AZ $56,501

Dallas, TX $56,484

Saint Cloud, MN $56,429

Madison, WI $56,352

Utica, NY $56,198

Rochester, NY $56,106

Des Moines, IA $56,100

Raleigh, NC $56,095

Atlanta, GA $56,009

Battle Creek, MI $55,992

Salt Lake City, UT $55,974

Lancaster, PA $55,889

Harrisburg, PA $55,809

Kansas City, MO $55,751

Champaign, IL $55,740

Kansas City, KS $55,740

Fort Worth, TX $55,734

Columbus, OH $55,724

Boca Raton, FL $55,711

Pittsburgh, PA $55,688

Richmond, VA $55,666

Indianapolis, IN $55,654

Cleveland, OH $55,648

Las Vegas, NV $55,580

Cincinnati, OH $55,580

Petersburg, VA $55,494

Huntsville, AL $55,408

Lansing, MI $55,370

Lebanon, PA $55,362

Pueblo, CO $55,357

Appleton, WI $55,340

Buffalo, NY $55,317

Dayton, OH $55,300

Racine, WI $55,288

Charlotte, NC $55,282

Saint Louis, MO $55,265

York, PA $55,231

Elkhart, IN $55,231

Gastonia, NC $55,220

Billings, MT $55,206

Beaumont, TX $55,191

Lorain, OH $55,179

Benton Harbor, MI $55,168

Toledo, OH $55,157

Binghamton, NY $55,128

Rock Hill, SC $55,122

Rockford, IL $55,094

Springfield, IL $55,071

Elyria, OH $55,065

Fargo, ND $55,065

Flagstaff, AZ $55,025

Fort Lauderdale, FL $54,991

Duluth, MN $54,956

Miami, FL $54,956

Cheyenne, WY $54,916

Grand Forks, ND $54,916

Bangor, ME $54,790

Cedar Rapids, IA $54,728

Durham, NC $54,704

Louisville, KY $54,699

Grand Rapids, MI $54,687

Hialeah, FL $54,682

Casper, WY $54,602

Scranton, PA $54,533

New Orleans, LA $54,516

Virginia Beach, VA $54,510

Akron, OH $54,482

Peoria, IL $54,407

Sarasota, FL $54,396

Nashville, TN $54,356

Omaha, NE $54,356

Green Bay, WI $54,356

Baton Rouge, LA $54,327

Charleston, SC $54,316

Jamestown, NY $54,287

Davenport, IA $54,287

Tucson, AZ $54,258

Saint Petersburg, FL $54,224

Tampa, FL $54,213

Evansville, IN $54,178

Port Arthur, TX $54,178

Bradenton, FL $54,156

Santa Fe, NM $54,053

Orlando, FL $53,950

Clearwater, FL $53,932

Canton, OH $53,812

La Crosse, WI $53,812

Albuquerque, NM $53,778

Newport News, VA $53,772

High Point, NC $53,755

Ogden, UT $53,732

Corpus Christi, TX $53,687

Norfolk, VA $53,652

Laramie, WY $53,652

Rock Island, IL $53,618

Saginaw, MI $53,606

Jacksonville, FL $53,601

Salisbury, NC $53,589

Boise, ID $53,578

Moline, IL $53,549

Fort Myers, FL $53,532

Memphis, TN $53,521

Tulsa, OK $53,492

Waterloo, IA $53,458

Spartanburg, SC $53,401

Lincoln, NE $53,372

Fort Wayne, IN $53,360

Provo, UT $53,355

Cedar Falls, IA $53,286

San Antonio, TX $53,263

Greensboro, NC $53,240

South Bend, IN $53,235

Savannah, GA $53,172

Muskegon, MI $53,149

Birmingham, AL $53,143

Winston Salem, NC $53,115

Lake Charles, LA $52,977

Anderson, IN $52,966

Lexington, KY $52,949

Augusta, GA $52,931

Greenville, SC $52,931

Lima, OH $52,886

Wichita, KS $52,880

Tuscaloosa, AL $52,880

Columbia, SC $52,829

Springfield, OH $52,817

Asheville, NC $52,726

Bloomington, IN $52,686

Knoxville, TN $52,480

Shreveport, LA $52,474

Wilmington, NC $52,400

Roanoke, VA $52,400

Topeka, KS $52,297

Frankfort, KY $52,290

Oklahoma City, OK $52,251

Chillicothe, OH $52,228

Longview, TX $52,222

Melbourne, FL $52,217

Sioux Falls, SD $52,125

Mobile, AL $52,119

Terre Haute, IN $52,096

Altoona, PA $52,062

Amarillo, TX $52,022

Killeen, TX $52,005

Fayetteville, AR $51,959

Chattanooga, TN $51,942

Sioux City, IA $51,890

Idaho Falls, ID $51,879

Lynchburg, VA $51,833

Gainesville, FL $51,759

Portsmouth, OH $51,730

Little Rock, AR $51,719

Lafayette, LA $51,696

Youngstown, OH $51,696

Daytona Beach, FL $51,662

Clarksville, TN $51,656

Pensacola, FL $51,650

Temple, TX $51,646

Hopkinsville, KY $51,479

Erie, PA $51,467

Florence, SC $51,444

Charleston, WV $51,353

Great Falls, MT $51,324

Macon, GA $51,244

Tallahassee, FL $51,238

Fayetteville, NC $51,227

Waco, TX $51,216

Helena, MT $51,175

Pine Bluff, AR $51,154

Vincennes, IN $51,084

Lubbock, TX $51,061

Alamogordo, NM $51,027

Twin Falls, ID $50,975

Rapid City, SD $50,958

Jackson, MS $50,855

Huntington, WV $50,851

Greenville, MS $50,849

Parkersburg, WV $50,791

Montgomery, AL $50,781

Wichita Falls, TX $50,724

Springfield, MO $50,724

Biloxi, MS $50,695

Monroe, LA $50,638

Johnstown, PA $50,598

Sumter, SC $50,575

Columbus, GA $50,569

Pascagoula, MS $50,461

Abilene, TX $50,461

Kingsport, TN $50,312

Albany, GA $50,312

Gulfport, MS $50,295

Alexandria, LA $50,106

Fort Smith, AR $49,963

El Paso, TX $49,808

Las Cruces, NM $49,551

Harlingen, TX $49,406

Pocatello, ID $49,397

Florence, AL $49,322

Brownsville, TX $49,311

Mcallen, TX $49,191

Dothan, AL $49,111

Columbus, MS $48,771

Altus, OK $48,504

Lawton, OK $48,396

Pierre, SD $48,190

What Skills Can Increase a Payroll Clerk'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'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	$60,630	6%
Collaboration	$60,058	5%
Leadership	$60,058	5%
Process Improvement	$60,058	5%
Workday	$59,486	4%
HRIS	$59,486	4%

Get Latest Data

Payroll Clerk Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Payroll Clerk 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 as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Payroll Clerk

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services	$74,358	$36.0	30%
Internet	$71,498	$34.0	25%
Biotechnology	$68,638	$33.0	20%
Energy & Utilities	$65,778	$32.0	15%
Pharmaceuticals	$65,778	$32.0	15%

How Education impacts a Payroll Clerk's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Payroll Clerks 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 with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $60,969 and $64,955).

Payroll Clerk Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Payroll Clerk

No Diploma 1.6%

High School 49.0%

Associates 22.4%

Bachelors 25.0%

Masters 1.6%

Doctorate 0.0%

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 Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Payroll Clerk'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

$51,554

Average $57,199/year

$62,981

$4,296

Average $4,767/month

$5,248

$991

Average $1,100/week

$1,211

$25

Average $27/hour

$30

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$62,981	$5,248	$1,211	$30
Average	$57,199	$4,767	$1,100	$27
25th Percentile	$51,554	$4,296	$991	$25

Salaries of jobs related to Payroll Clerk

Salary Trends for Payroll Clerk

Salaries for a Payroll Clerk can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $48,708 in 2023 to around $48,625 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Payroll Clerk salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Payroll Clerk Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$48,708

2024

$48,908

2025

$48,625

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$48,708
2024	$48,908
2025	$48,625
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Payroll Clerk

Social Security

401(k)

Disability

Healthcare

Pension

Time Off (days)

For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Biotechnology

the United States

Find Your Next Payroll Clerk Job

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

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

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

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

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

Price My Industry Jobs

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

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