Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Salary by State
The national median pay for payroll and timekeeping clerks is $58,260 a year. By state, it ranges from $45,170 in Mississippi to $74,670 in District of Columbia.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $39,500
- 25th percentile
- $47,990
- Median
- $58,260
- 75th percentile
- $69,600
- Top 10%
- $81,350
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job. About 153,140 jobs.
Median pay in 50 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $74,670 | +28% | $49,270 | $98,760 | 270 |
| 2 | California | $65,340 | +12% | $46,120 | $92,080 | 20,590 |
| 3 | Washington | $64,560 | +11% | $50,220 | $89,290 | 3,560 |
| 4 | Colorado | $64,140 | +10% | $46,590 | $88,050 | 2,580 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $63,670 | +9% | $49,110 | $86,360 | 3,280 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $63,090 | +8% | $42,220 | $87,140 | 800 |
| 7 | Alaska | $62,210 | +7% | $46,790 | $78,450 | 360 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $62,200 | +7% | $47,120 | $83,950 | 1,540 |
| 9 | Hawaii | $62,070 | +7% | $45,140 | $83,810 | 700 |
| 10 | Illinois | $61,390 | +5% | $39,670 | $86,460 | 5,580 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $61,320 | +5% | $49,270 | $79,370 | 2,790 |
| 12 | New York | $61,040 | +5% | $45,140 | $86,470 | 8,400 |
| 13 | Oregon | $60,980 | +5% | $42,430 | $82,080 | 2,890 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $60,750 | +4% | $42,990 | $84,990 | 4,290 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $60,600 | +4% | $46,880 | $77,530 | 300 |
| 16 | Georgia | $59,990 | +3% | $39,590 | $76,790 | 6,720 |
| 17 | Maryland | $59,760 | +3% | $31,750 | $82,140 | 1,870 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $59,370 | +2% | $38,080 | $82,090 | 410 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $59,310 | +2% | $42,730 | $76,830 | 2,590 |
| 20 | Virginia | $58,250 | 0% | $43,890 | $78,800 | 3,400 |
| 21 | Nevada | $58,220 | 0% | $37,850 | $78,410 | 1,390 |
| 22 | Maine | $57,360 | −2% | $43,370 | $79,040 | 590 |
| 23 | Ohio | $57,270 | −2% | $40,310 | $80,650 | 5,820 |
| 24 | Kansas | $56,590 | −3% | $42,340 | $79,160 | 1,400 |
| 25 | Delaware | $56,430 | −3% | $38,680 | $86,620 | 320 |
| 26 | Utah | $56,430 | −3% | $43,400 | $74,530 | 1,590 |
| 27 | Michigan | $56,160 | −4% | $38,560 | $78,200 | 4,050 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $55,690 | −4% | $39,630 | $76,980 | 5,170 |
| 29 | Vermont | $55,340 | −5% | $45,010 | $70,690 | 270 |
| 30 | Montana | $55,040 | −6% | $37,910 | $78,500 | 530 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $54,900 | −6% | $43,320 | $74,360 | 910 |
| 32 | Texas | $54,090 | −7% | $36,040 | $75,850 | 13,220 |
| 33 | Iowa | $54,080 | −7% | $39,410 | $70,990 | 1,230 |
| 34 | Missouri | $54,080 | −7% | $37,030 | $79,470 | 3,460 |
| 35 | Indiana | $53,770 | −8% | $38,910 | $77,700 | 4,020 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $53,550 | −8% | $36,620 | $74,480 | 3,630 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $53,230 | −9% | $37,230 | $69,990 | 820 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $52,890 | −9% | $36,600 | $76,590 | 1,670 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $52,240 | −10% | $38,180 | $77,660 | 1,550 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $51,940 | −11% | $38,320 | $74,610 | 160 |
| 41 | Florida | $51,910 | −11% | $35,730 | $76,710 | 10,910 |
| 42 | Idaho | $51,790 | −11% | $41,440 | $70,390 | 800 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $51,780 | −11% | $36,270 | $75,160 | 3,680 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $50,800 | −13% | $29,480 | $71,750 | 2,160 |
| 45 | Arizona | $50,210 | −14% | $33,870 | $69,980 | 3,540 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $49,920 | −14% | $32,410 | $74,190 | 2,470 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $47,680 | −18% | $38,780 | $64,350 | 370 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $47,460 | −19% | $30,990 | $63,390 | 580 |
| 49 | Alabama | $46,170 | −21% | $32,210 | $64,170 | 1,360 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $46,110 | −21% | $34,270 | $71,280 | 1,220 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $45,170 | −22% | $30,560 | $66,930 | 1,330 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary questions
Which state pays payroll and timekeeping clerks the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $74,670 a year (+28% vs. the national median of $58,260). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays payroll and timekeeping clerks the least?
Mississippi, with a median of $45,170 a year (−22% vs. national).
Where do most payroll and timekeeping clerks work?
California has the most jobs, about 20,590, with a median of $65,340.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.