Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $62,920 a year ($30.25 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,170 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $87,990 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $58,260. Pay here is 2% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $61,390. There are 0.92 payroll and timekeeping clerks per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $64,400, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,340 | $20.35 |
| 25th percentile | $49,750 | $23.92 |
| Median | $62,920 | $30.25 |
| 75th percentile | $77,230 | $37.13 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $87,990 | $42.30 |
| Average (mean) | $64,400 | $30.96 |
Half of payroll and timekeeping clerks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,243.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,621.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,420 |
| Weekly | $1,210 |
| Hourly | $30.25 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $62,920 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IL | $62,400 | 60 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $59,200 | 80 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $59,190 | 1,530 |
| Springfield, IL | $57,680 | 80 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $57,540 | 1,030 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $57,220 | 40 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $56,900 | 160 |
| Decatur, IL | $56,780 | 40 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $56,430 | 110 |
| Rockford, IL | $55,630 | 120 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $55,450 | 1,690 |
| Columbus, IN | $55,160 | 60 |
| Peoria, IL | $55,100 | 160 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $54,600 | 600 |
| Bloomington, IN | $53,040 | 80 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $52,920 | 100 |
| Kokomo, IN | $52,140 | 40 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $50,320 | 100 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $50,150 | 40 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $50,030 | 280 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $48,510 | 70 |
| Evansville, IN | $48,220 | 140 |
| Muncie, IN | $46,200 | 40 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $43,610 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for payroll and timekeeping clerks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $74,670 |
| California | $65,340 |
| Washington | $64,560 |
| Colorado | $64,140 |
| Massachusetts | $63,670 |
| New Hampshire | $63,090 |
| Alaska | $62,210 |
| Connecticut | $62,200 |
| Hawaii | $62,070 |
| Illinois | $61,390 |
See Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $51,440 | $24.73 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $49,960 | $24.02 |
| Teller | $44,540 | $21.41 |
| Bill and Account Collectors | $49,390 | $23.75 |
| Financial Clerks, All Other | $56,980 | $27.40 |
| Procurement Clerk | $49,320 | $23.71 |
| Gambling Cage Worker | $43,710 | $21.01 |
| Customer Service Representative | $47,100 | $22.65 |
| Office Clerks, General | $46,330 | $22.28 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $50,440 | $24.25 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $71,730 | $34.49 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $38,060 | $18.30 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $47,740 | $22.95 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $47,680 | $22.92 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 43-3051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a payroll and timekeeping clerks make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for payroll and timekeeping clerks in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $62,920 a year, or $30.25 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $87,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid payroll and timekeeping clerks make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of payroll and timekeeping clerks in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $87,990 a year. The top 25% earn $77,230 or more.
What is the starting pay for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,340 a year, and a quarter of payroll and timekeeping clerks earn $49,750 or less.
How many payroll and timekeeping clerks work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 4,170 payroll and timekeeping clerks are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.