How much does a payroll clerk make?
a year · about $28 an hour
A typical payroll clerk in the United States makes $58,260 a year, about $28 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They check digital time records for hours and corrections, enter wages and deductions, and prepare pay statements. They also fix mismatches, update employee records, and answer questions about pay or leave.
Did you know? Some payroll clerks also prepare and file payroll-tax returns, so their work can include sending tax paperwork—not just preparing paychecks.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $39,500 and $81,350How do you become one?
In the U.S., finish high school or an equivalent diploma and apply for an entry-level payroll job, often around age 18. Employers teach the work on the job; beginners can also take PayrollOrg’s FPC exam to show basic payroll knowledge.
School needed: Vocational school or a few years' experience
Good for people who like keeping things organized and leading and selling
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, experience, payroll skills, and a valued certification can affect pay, as can handling more complex tasks. Pay also differs by employer and industry, location, and hours worked.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in California ($65,340), lowest in Mississippi ($45,170).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 | about 153,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $65,340 | about 21,000 |
| Washington | $64,560 | about 4,000 |
| Colorado | $64,140 | about 3,000 |
| Massachusetts | $63,670 | about 3,000 |
| New Hampshire | $63,090 | about 800 |
Official definition: Compile and record employee time and payroll data. May compute employees’ time worked, production, and commission. May compute and post wages and deductions, or prepare paychecks. Excludes “Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks” (43-3031).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/financial-clerks.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/43-3051.00
- payroll.org/certification
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- nces.ed.gov/pubs98/minidigest97/98020-1.asp
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY