All About Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks
Payroll & Timekeeping Clerk 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.
Payroll & Timekeeping Clerk Responsibilities
- Process and issue employee paychecks and statements of earnings and deductions.
- Record employee information, such as exemptions, transfers, and resignations, to maintain and update payroll records.
- Compute wages and deductions, and enter data into computers.
- Distribute and collect timecards each pay period.
- Train employees on organizations’ timekeeping systems.
- Balance cash and payroll accounts.
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Things a Payroll & Timekeeping Clerk Should Know How to Do
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Payroll Clerk
- Flight Crew Scheduler
- Accounting Technician
- Wanigan Clerk
- Attendance Clerk
Payroll & Timekeeping Clerk Employment Estimates
In the United States, there were 166,300 jobs for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk. There will be an estimated 16,100 positions for Payroll & Timekeeping Clerk per year.

The states with the most job growth for Payroll & Timekeeping Clerk are Utah, Nevada, and Washington. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Vermont, or Delaware. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Payroll & Timekeeping Clerk
The salary for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks ranges between about $29,170 and $64,420 a year.

Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks who work in District of Columbia, Alaska, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $40,700 |
Alaska | $52,860 |
Arizona | $42,570 |
Arkansas | $39,360 |
California | $51,520 |
Colorado | $49,980 |
Connecticut | $53,010 |
Delaware | $44,940 |
District of Columbia | $62,860 |
Florida | $42,520 |
Georgia | $46,250 |
Hawaii | $47,010 |
Idaho | $40,010 |
Illinois | $49,000 |
Indiana | $40,720 |
Iowa | $44,570 |
Kansas | $44,620 |
Kentucky | $41,290 |
Louisiana | $39,250 |
Maine | $40,400 |
Maryland | $51,610 |
Massachusetts | $51,840 |
Michigan | $44,030 |
Minnesota | $50,570 |
Mississippi | $39,250 |
Missouri | $39,640 |
Montana | $39,560 |
Nebraska | $41,750 |
Nevada | $45,180 |
New Hampshire | $48,590 |
New Jersey | $47,450 |
New Mexico | $39,050 |
New York | $47,960 |
North Carolina | $42,510 |
North Dakota | $45,190 |
Ohio | $43,980 |
Oklahoma | $40,680 |
Oregon | $46,620 |
Pennsylvania | $44,160 |
Rhode Island | $46,710 |
South Carolina | $41,370 |
South Dakota | $37,450 |
Tennessee | $44,650 |
Texas | $44,390 |
Utah | $45,980 |
Vermont | $44,050 |
Virginia | $47,720 |
Washington | $50,860 |
West Virginia | $35,560 |
Wisconsin | $44,590 |
Wyoming | $44,470 |
What Tools do Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- Email software
- Word processing software
- SAP
- Spreadsheet software
- Microsoft Dynamics
- IBM Notes
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Oracle PeopleSoft
- Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
- IBM Cognos Impromptu
- Oracle E-Business Suite Financials
- Microsoft Dynamics GP
Becoming a Payroll & Timekeeping Clerk
What education or degrees do I need to become a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Sector

The table below shows the approximate number of Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks employed by various industries.

Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk might also be interested in the following careers:
Those who work as a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Pixabay via CC0 License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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