What a payroll clerk costs in 2026
The median payroll clerk in the United States earned $58,260 a year, $28.01 an hour, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 survey. With benefits at a small employer, a full-time payroll clerk at the median costs about $78,700 a year, or about $6,600 a month.
The middle half of payroll clerks earn $47,990 to $69,600. There are 153,140 of them across the country, and what one costs you depends most on where you are: District of Columbia has the highest median at $74,670, and Mississippi the lowest of the 50 states at $45,170.
Liaison does the routine half of a payroll clerk’s job for 10% of that. See how.
What a payroll clerk would cost you
Pick a state or a metro area and the hours you need. The cost is the median hourly wage there plus benefits at the rate you choose.
Payroll clerk, the United States, 40 hours a week
$78,656 a year
$6,555 a month. Wages $58,261 at the median of $28.01 an hour, plus $20,395 in benefits. The middle half of payroll clerks here earn $47,990 to $69,600 in wages.
Payroll clerk wages and cost by state
Median wage, May 2025. The cost column adds benefits at the rate for employers with 1 to 49 workers (35% on top of wages).
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | Cost to a small employer | Middle half earns | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $46,170 | $22.20 | $62,333 | $37,520 to $55,030 | 1,360 |
| Alaska | $62,210 | $29.91 | $83,988 | $56,430 to $68,650 | 360 |
| Arizona | $50,210 | $24.14 | $67,787 | $42,760 to $60,060 | 3,540 |
| Arkansas | $46,110 | $22.17 | $62,252 | $40,260 to $55,360 | 1,220 |
| California | $65,340 | $31.41 | $88,214 | $56,230 to $78,870 | 20,590 |
| Colorado | $64,140 | $30.84 | $86,594 | $51,650 to $76,040 | 2,580 |
| Connecticut | $62,200 | $29.91 | $83,974 | $55,010 to $74,480 | 1,540 |
| Delaware | $56,430 | $27.13 | $76,185 | $48,400 to $80,250 | 320 |
| District of Columbia | $74,670 | $35.90 | $100,810 | $61,840 to $90,270 | 270 |
| Florida | $51,910 | $24.96 | $70,082 | $45,000 to $63,720 | 10,910 |
| Georgia | $59,990 | $28.84 | $80,991 | $48,760 to $69,990 | 6,720 |
| Guam | $38,550 | $18.53 | $52,045 | $31,140 to $48,740 | 60 |
| Hawaii | $62,070 | $29.84 | $83,799 | $54,590 to $76,780 | 700 |
| Idaho | $51,790 | $24.90 | $69,920 | $46,900 to $63,240 | 800 |
| Illinois | $61,390 | $29.51 | $82,881 | $48,560 to $74,820 | 5,580 |
| Indiana | $53,770 | $25.85 | $72,593 | $45,100 to $65,540 | 4,020 |
| Iowa | $54,080 | $26.00 | $73,012 | $46,070 to $61,420 | 1,230 |
| Kansas | $56,590 | $27.21 | $76,401 | $49,750 to $68,100 | 1,400 |
| Kentucky | $52,890 | $25.43 | $71,405 | $43,800 to $62,710 | 1,670 |
| Louisiana | $50,800 | $24.42 | $68,584 | $40,710 to $61,750 | 2,160 |
| Maine | $57,360 | $27.58 | $77,440 | $47,920 to $67,100 | 590 |
| Maryland | $59,760 | $28.73 | $80,680 | $48,740 to $69,350 | 1,870 |
| Massachusetts | $63,670 | $30.61 | $85,959 | $54,890 to $77,960 | 3,280 |
| Michigan | $56,160 | $27.00 | $75,820 | $48,700 to $67,150 | 4,050 |
| Minnesota | $61,320 | $29.48 | $82,786 | $53,450 to $71,190 | 2,790 |
| Mississippi | $45,170 | $21.72 | $60,983 | $36,100 to $56,840 | 1,330 |
| Missouri | $54,080 | $26.00 | $73,012 | $43,080 to $64,120 | 3,460 |
| Montana | $55,040 | $26.46 | $74,308 | $46,500 to $63,060 | 530 |
| Nebraska | $54,900 | $26.40 | $74,119 | $48,210 to $63,500 | 910 |
| Nevada | $58,220 | $27.99 | $78,601 | $45,110 to $70,030 | 1,390 |
| New Hampshire | $63,090 | $30.33 | $85,176 | $52,710 to $74,630 | 800 |
| New Jersey | $60,750 | $29.21 | $82,017 | $50,440 to $73,350 | 4,290 |
| New Mexico | $53,230 | $25.59 | $71,864 | $43,920 to $63,010 | 820 |
| New York | $61,040 | $29.35 | $82,408 | $50,700 to $73,220 | 8,400 |
| North Carolina | $53,550 | $25.75 | $72,296 | $45,680 to $62,650 | 3,630 |
| North Dakota | $60,600 | $29.13 | $81,814 | $53,550 to $66,160 | 300 |
| Ohio | $57,270 | $27.54 | $77,319 | $47,480 to $66,880 | 5,820 |
| Oklahoma | $49,920 | $24.00 | $67,396 | $39,900 to $62,200 | 2,470 |
| Oregon | $60,980 | $29.32 | $82,327 | $51,690 to $72,770 | 2,890 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,690 | $26.78 | $75,185 | $46,540 to $64,590 | 5,170 |
| Puerto Rico | $34,200 | $16.44 | $46,172 | $27,900 to $41,320 | 1,040 |
| Rhode Island | $59,370 | $28.54 | $80,154 | $48,310 to $71,800 | 410 |
| South Carolina | $52,240 | $25.12 | $70,528 | $45,500 to $62,400 | 1,550 |
| South Dakota | $47,680 | $22.92 | $64,371 | $43,350 to $56,520 | 370 |
| Tennessee | $51,780 | $24.89 | $69,907 | $45,300 to $61,350 | 3,680 |
| Texas | $54,090 | $26.00 | $73,025 | $45,220 to $63,940 | 13,220 |
| Utah | $56,430 | $27.13 | $76,185 | $49,820 to $65,000 | 1,590 |
| Vermont | $55,340 | $26.61 | $74,713 | $45,010 to $63,710 | 270 |
| Virgin Islands | $38,100 | $18.32 | $51,438 | $38,100 to $42,660 | 40 |
| Virginia | $58,250 | $28.01 | $78,642 | $49,380 to $68,140 | 3,400 |
| Washington | $64,560 | $31.04 | $87,161 | $58,310 to $76,390 | 3,560 |
| West Virginia | $47,460 | $22.82 | $64,074 | $36,020 to $60,860 | 580 |
| Wisconsin | $59,310 | $28.52 | $80,073 | $50,850 to $66,980 | 2,590 |
| Wyoming | $51,940 | $24.97 | $70,123 | $42,340 to $64,540 | 160 |
Highest and lowest paying metro areas
Out of the 359 metro areas where BLS publishes a median for payroll clerks. The lowest list covers the 50 states and DC; the calculator above has every metro area, Puerto Rico’s included.
| Highest | Median annual |
|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $80,510 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $77,950 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $68,870 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $68,380 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $67,740 |
| Lowest | Median annual |
|---|---|
| Yuma, AZ | $37,810 |
| Dothan, AL | $38,550 |
| Morgantown, WV | $39,110 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $40,370 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $40,810 |
The routine part of the payroll clerk’s job
Much of what a payroll clerk does every week is routine: the follow-ups, the reconciling, the scheduling, the reports pulled together from three systems. That routine part is what Liaison does, inside the tools the business already runs: $629 a month on Professional, set up with you, or $149 a month self-serve. The judgment stays with your people.
The routine half of a payroll clerk’s job, for 10% of what one costs.
- Collects the hours and the approvals before the run and flags what does not add up.
- Cross-checks the payroll totals against the books at month end.
- Tells you on Monday whether Friday’s payroll is covered, from the bank, the books and the payouts on their way.
Professional is $629 a month, $7,548 a year, against about $78,700 a year for a payroll clerk at the median once benefits are added. On Professional we connect your tools, bring your data in and set up the first rules with you. Anything that moves money waits for your yes.
“Cut our month-end close from 4 days to 4 hours.” Marcus C., owner
$629 a month, or $500 a month on a 12-month term. Prefer to start on your own? Starter is $149 a month, self-serve, with a free trial first: 7 days, no card. More: AI bookkeeper.
Questions
How much does a payroll clerk cost a small business?
The median payroll clerk earned $58,260 a year, or $28.01 an hour, in May 2025. Benefits at employers with fewer than 50 workers add 35% on top of wages (June 2026), so a full-time payroll clerk at the median costs about $78,700 a year. The middle half earn $47,990 to $69,600.
Which states pay payroll clerks the most?
District of Columbia ($74,670), California ($65,340) and Washington ($64,560) have the highest median wage for payroll clerks. The lowest among the 50 states and DC are Mississippi ($45,170), Arkansas ($46,110) and Alabama ($46,170).
Which metro areas pay payroll clerks the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($80,510), San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($77,950) and Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA ($68,870), out of the 359 metro areas where BLS publishes a median for payroll clerks.
Where does this data come from?
Wages are the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for May 2025, occupation 43-3051. The benefit cost is from the BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation release for June 2026. Recruiting, training, equipment and turnover are not included.
See it on your own business.
Thirty minutes with us, on your own tools. Bring the thing that eats your evenings and watch it get handled from your own inbox, calendar and books.
Professional is $629 a month and we set it up with you. Starter is $149 a month, self-serve, with the free trial first: 7 days, no card. Every plan is on the pricing page.