Payroll clerk salary in North Carolina
The median payroll clerk in North Carolina earns $53,550 a year, or $25.75 an hour, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 survey. That is 8% below the national median of $58,260, and 36th of the 54 states and territories BLS publishes.
The middle half of North Carolina’s 3,630 payroll clerks earn between $45,680 and $62,650. The highest paying metro area in the state is Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC, at $57,650.
Liaison does the routine half of a payroll clerk’s job for 10% of what one costs in North Carolina. See how.
Payroll clerk salary by city in North Carolina
Every metro area in North Carolina 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $57,650 | $27.72 | $49,170 to $66,540 | 970 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $56,400 | $27.12 | $46,340 to $64,410 | 190 |
| Burlington, NC | $55,440 | $26.65 | $44,520 to $67,060 | 50 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $54,960 | $26.42 | $45,740 to $66,530 | 240 |
| Asheville, NC | $54,290 | $26.10 | $42,840 to $63,260 | 120 |
| Greenville, NC | $54,170 | $26.05 | $47,970 to $61,620 | 40 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $54,100 | $26.01 | $43,970 to $65,190 | 590 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $53,190 | $25.57 | $49,350 to $61,790 | 660 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $52,170 | $25.08 | $46,040 to $59,700 | 140 |
| Wilmington, NC | $51,480 | $24.75 | $47,320 to $58,800 | 130 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $50,800 | $24.42 | $42,610 to $59,710 | 90 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $49,990 | $24.03 | $48,930 to $61,520 | 220 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $49,390 | $23.74 | $39,780 to $58,060 | 50 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $45,700 | $21.97 | $38,580 to $51,690 | 30 |
What a payroll clerk costs an employer in North Carolina
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 North Carolina median costs about $72,300 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 10% of what one costs in North Carolina.
- 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 $72,300 a year for a payroll clerk at the North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
The median payroll clerk in North Carolina earned $53,550 a year, or $25.75 an hour, in May 2025. The middle half earned between $45,680 and $62,650. Nationally the median is $58,260, so North Carolina pays 8% less than the country as a whole.
Which cities in North Carolina pay payroll clerks the most?
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($57,650), Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($56,400) and Burlington, NC ($55,440).
What does a payroll clerk cost an employer in North Carolina?
Benefits at employers with fewer than 50 workers add 35% on top of wages, so a payroll clerk at the North Carolina median costs about $72,300 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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