Payroll clerk salary in California
The median payroll clerk in California earns $65,340 a year, or $31.41 an hour, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 survey. That is 12% above the national median of $58,260, and 2nd of the 54 states and territories BLS publishes.
The middle half of California’s 20,590 payroll clerks earn between $56,230 and $78,870. The highest paying metro area in the state is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, at $80,510.
Liaison does the routine half of a payroll clerk’s job for 9% of what one costs in California. See how.
Payroll clerk salary by city in California
Every metro area in California where BLS publishes a median for payroll clerks, highest first. A metro that crosses a state line appears under each of its states.
| Metro area | Median annual | Median hourly | Middle half earns | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $80,510 | $38.71 | $66,480 to $95,050 | 2,260 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $77,950 | $37.48 | $68,330 to $95,030 | 1,000 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $68,870 | $33.11 | $58,070 to $79,250 | 300 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $68,380 | $32.88 | $56,970 to $75,360 | 120 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $65,810 | $31.64 | $56,610 to $75,940 | 2,000 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $65,040 | $31.27 | $59,810 to $78,160 | 6,600 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $63,810 | $30.68 | $50,840 to $77,280 | 1,840 |
| Vallejo, CA | $63,170 | $30.37 | $55,770 to $78,190 | 190 |
| Napa, CA | $62,920 | $30.25 | $55,230 to $78,950 | 100 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $62,050 | $29.83 | $52,180 to $72,670 | 90 |
| Modesto, CA | $61,980 | $29.80 | $53,080 to $74,590 | 260 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $61,310 | $29.48 | $52,520 to $72,630 | 320 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $61,230 | $29.44 | $49,170 to $74,410 | 340 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $61,200 | $29.42 | $51,330 to $75,440 | 1,630 |
| Merced, CA | $60,350 | $29.02 | $50,800 to $70,880 | 100 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $60,040 | $28.86 | $48,510 to $74,880 | 150 |
| Fresno, CA | $59,730 | $28.72 | $48,690 to $71,000 | 710 |
| Chico, CA | $59,720 | $28.71 | $50,910 to $66,410 | 80 |
| Salinas, CA | $59,530 | $28.62 | $48,760 to $74,620 | 270 |
| Yuba City, CA | $58,840 | $28.29 | $51,420 to $70,830 | 70 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $57,970 | $27.87 | $50,020 to $73,720 | 240 |
| El Centro, CA | $57,610 | $27.70 | $45,320 to $74,390 | 100 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $56,650 | $27.24 | $46,480 to $71,830 | 500 |
| Redding, CA | $55,430 | $26.65 | $50,540 to $68,480 | 80 |
| Visalia, CA | $54,890 | $26.39 | $46,060 to $65,040 | 240 |
What a payroll clerk costs an employer in California
Wages are the start. At employers with fewer than 50 workers, benefits add 35% on top (BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation), so a payroll clerk at the California median costs about $88,200 a year. The employer’s view for every state and metro is on what a payroll clerk costs, and the routine part of the job is what Liaison does inside the tools a business already runs.
The routine half of a payroll clerk’s job, for 9% of what one costs in California.
- 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 $88,200 a year for a payroll clerk at the California 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 make in California?
The median payroll clerk in California earned $65,340 a year, or $31.41 an hour, in May 2025. The middle half earned between $56,230 and $78,870. Nationally the median is $58,260, so California pays 12% more than the country as a whole.
Which cities in California 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).
What does a payroll clerk cost an employer in California?
Benefits at employers with fewer than 50 workers add 35% on top of wages, so a payroll clerk at the California median costs about $88,200 a year. The employer’s view is at useliaison.com/back-office-costs/payroll-clerk.
Payroll clerk salary in other states
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 43-3051. Annual figures assume 2,080 hours a year. Updated 2026-10-02.
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