Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median of $58,600 a year ($28.17 an hour), based on BLS data for 300 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,970 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $58,260. Pay here is 8% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $54,080. There are 0.75 payroll and timekeeping clerks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.76). The average (mean) salary is $63,410, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,970 | $20.18 |
| 25th percentile | $51,280 | $24.65 |
| Median | $58,600 | $28.17 |
| 75th percentile | $65,610 | $31.55 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,970 | $37.97 |
| Average (mean) | $63,410 | $30.48 |
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 | $4,883.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,441.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,253.85 |
| Weekly | $1,126.92 |
| Hourly | $28.17 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $58,600 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $57,300 | 40 |
| Ames, IA | $56,920 | 30 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $56,900 | 160 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $56,870 | 460 |
| Iowa City, IA | $56,430 | 40 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $55,940 | 50 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $53,260 | 110 |
| Dubuque, IA | $44,260 | 80 |
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 Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $50,610 | $24.33 |
| Teller | $45,450 | $21.85 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $47,990 | $23.07 |
| Bill and Account Collectors | $51,730 | $24.87 |
| Procurement Clerk | $51,520 | $24.77 |
| Financial Clerks, All Other | $51,770 | $24.89 |
| Customer Service Representative | $48,880 | $23.50 |
| Office Clerks, General | $46,540 | $22.38 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $47,500 | $22.84 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $71,690 | $34.47 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $42,160 | $20.27 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $64,990 | $31.25 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $47,300 | $22.74 |
| Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks | $46,770 | $22.48 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median salary for payroll and timekeeping clerks in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $58,600 a year, or $28.17 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,970 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid payroll and timekeeping clerks make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The top 10% of payroll and timekeeping clerks in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn at least $78,970 a year. The top 25% earn $65,610 or more.
What is the starting pay for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,970 a year, and a quarter of payroll and timekeeping clerks earn $51,280 or less.
How many payroll and timekeeping clerks work in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
About 300 payroll and timekeeping clerks are employed in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.