Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Career, Salary and Skills
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $58,260 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 153,140. Wage data is published for 413 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
43-3051.00
Job zone
3
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$58,260
Hourly median
$28.01
Employment
153,140
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.88 | 3.75 |
| Active Listening | 3.75 | 3.38 |
| Mathematics | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Writing | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Speaking | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Service Orientation | 3.00 | 2.75 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.88 | 2.88 |
Typical tasks
- Process and issue employee paychecks and statements of earnings and deductions.
- Compute wages and deductions, and enter data into computers.
- Process paperwork for new employees and enter employee information into the payroll system.
- Prepare and balance period-end reports, and reconcile issued payrolls to bank statements.
- Review time sheets, work charts, wage computation, and other information to detect and reconcile payroll discrepancies.
- Distribute and collect timecards each pay period.
- Record employee information, such as exemptions, transfers, and resignations, to maintain and update payroll records.
- Verify attendance, hours worked, and pay adjustments, and post information onto designated records.
Technology
- IBM Notes
- Human resource management software HRMS
- Human Resource MicroSystems HR Entre
- IBM Cognos Impromptu
- Intuit QuickBooks
- isolved Time
- Jantek Jupiter Time Attendance
- Kronos Workforce Payroll
- Kronos Workforce Timekeeper
- MicroFocus GroupWise
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Dynamics
- Microsoft Dynamics GP
- Microsoft Excel
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Salary in CAMedian $65,340 · Employment 20,590
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Salary in TXMedian $54,090 · Employment 13,220
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Salary in FLMedian $51,910 · Employment 10,910
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Salary in NYMedian $61,040 · Employment 8,400
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Salary in New York, NYMedian $63,500 · Employment 7,770
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Salary in GAMedian $59,990 · Employment 6,720
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $65,040 · Employment 6,600
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Salary in OHMedian $57,270 · Employment 5,820
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Salary in ILMedian $61,390 · Employment 5,580
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Salary in PAMedian $55,690 · Employment 5,170
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Salary in NJMedian $60,750 · Employment 4,290
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Salary in Atlanta, GAMedian $62,710 · Employment 4,260
Related careers
- Treasurers and ControllersNational median $166,570
- Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsNational median $76,590
- Tax PreparersNational median $54,920
- Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue AgentsNational median $62,370
- Budget AnalystsNational median $91,640
- Financial ManagersNational median $166,570
- Human Resources SpecialistsNational median $75,940
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis SpecialistsNational median $78,210
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.