Payroll clerk salary in Texas
The median payroll clerk in Texas earns $54,090 a year, or $26.00 an hour, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 survey. That is 7% below the national median of $58,260, and 32nd of the 54 states and territories BLS publishes.
The middle half of Texas’s 13,220 payroll clerks earn between $45,220 and $63,940. The highest paying metro area in the state is Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, at $60,230.
Liaison does the routine half of a payroll clerk’s job for 10% of what one costs in Texas. See how.
Payroll clerk salary by city in Texas
Every metro area in Texas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $60,230 | $28.96 | $48,290 to $69,720 | 3,800 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $59,630 | $28.67 | $48,590 to $72,260 | 960 |
| Midland, TX | $59,510 | $28.61 | $47,280 to $72,460 | 100 |
| Waco, TX | $56,040 | $26.94 | $48,030 to $63,610 | 100 |
| Odessa, TX | $56,000 | $26.92 | $48,450 to $65,370 | 60 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $54,090 | $26.00 | $48,790 to $64,050 | 3,260 |
| Longview, TX | $53,470 | $25.71 | $42,680 to $59,230 | 110 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $53,290 | $25.62 | $45,890 to $59,950 | 190 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $50,830 | $24.44 | $44,610 to $61,490 | 980 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $50,540 | $24.30 | $49,320 to $63,050 | 30 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $50,450 | $24.26 | $42,550 to $61,000 | 160 |
| Abilene, TX | $50,120 | $24.10 | $39,500 to $58,210 | 70 |
| Amarillo, TX | $49,850 | $23.97 | $38,450 to $58,540 | 100 |
| El Paso, TX | $48,620 | $23.37 | $41,550 to $57,160 | 490 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $48,310 | $23.23 | $40,000 to $56,680 | 50 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $47,440 | $22.81 | $42,340 to $57,030 | 90 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $46,590 | $22.40 | $41,440 to $57,460 | 170 |
| Tyler, TX | $46,540 | $22.38 | $37,630 to $56,920 | 80 |
| Lubbock, TX | $46,360 | $22.29 | $39,520 to $57,200 | 150 |
| San Angelo, TX | $44,420 | $21.35 | $38,610 to $56,430 | 40 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $44,290 | $21.29 | $37,040 to $65,380 | 40 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $42,070 | $20.23 | $33,860 to $48,390 | 140 |
| Laredo, TX | $41,030 | $19.73 | $33,100 to $50,640 | 100 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $40,810 | $19.62 | $33,280 to $50,000 | 280 |
What a payroll clerk costs an employer in Texas
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 Texas median costs about $73,000 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 10% of what one costs in Texas.
- 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 $73,000 a year for a payroll clerk at the Texas 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 Texas?
The median payroll clerk in Texas earned $54,090 a year, or $26.00 an hour, in May 2025. The middle half earned between $45,220 and $63,940. Nationally the median is $58,260, so Texas pays 7% less than the country as a whole.
Which cities in Texas pay payroll clerks the most?
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($60,230), Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX ($59,630) and Midland, TX ($59,510).
What does a payroll clerk cost an employer in Texas?
Benefits at employers with fewer than 50 workers add 35% on top of wages, so a payroll clerk at the Texas median costs about $73,000 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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