Payroll clerk salary in New Jersey
The median payroll clerk in New Jersey earns $60,750 a year, or $29.21 an hour, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 survey. That is 4% above the national median of $58,260, and 14th of the 54 states and territories BLS publishes.
The middle half of New Jersey’s 4,290 payroll clerks earn between $50,440 and $73,350. The highest paying metro area in the state is New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, at $63,500.
Liaison does the routine half of a payroll clerk’s job for 9% of what one costs in New Jersey. See how.
Payroll clerk salary by city in New Jersey
Every metro area in New Jersey 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $63,500 | $30.53 | $53,070 to $75,790 | 7,770 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $58,810 | $28.27 | $49,540 to $70,380 | 2,410 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $57,780 | $27.78 | $45,660 to $66,600 | 260 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $54,870 | $26.38 | $45,480 to $67,120 | 210 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $54,560 | $26.23 | $48,200 to $65,160 | 140 |
| Vineland, NJ | $50,790 | $24.42 | $45,590 to $60,520 | 80 |
What a payroll clerk costs an employer in New Jersey
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 New Jersey median costs about $82,000 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 New Jersey.
- 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 $82,000 a year for a payroll clerk at the New Jersey 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
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Questions
How much does a payroll clerk make in New Jersey?
The median payroll clerk in New Jersey earned $60,750 a year, or $29.21 an hour, in May 2025. The middle half earned between $50,440 and $73,350. Nationally the median is $58,260, so New Jersey pays 4% more than the country as a whole.
Which cities in New Jersey pay payroll clerks the most?
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ($63,500), Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($58,810) and Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ ($57,780).
What does a payroll clerk cost an employer in New Jersey?
Benefits at employers with fewer than 50 workers add 35% on top of wages, so a payroll clerk at the New Jersey median costs about $82,000 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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