Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in Kentucky
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in Kentucky earn a median of $52,890 a year ($25.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,670 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,590 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $58,260. Kentucky ranks 38th of 51 states for payroll and timekeeping clerks pay. There are 0.83 payroll and timekeeping clerks per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $54,510, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,600 | $17.59 |
| 25th percentile | $43,800 | $21.06 |
| Median | $52,890 | $25.43 |
| 75th percentile | $62,710 | $30.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,590 | $36.82 |
| Average (mean) | $54,510 | $26.21 |
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 | $4,407.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,203.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,034.23 |
| Weekly | $1,017.12 |
| Hourly | $25.43 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $52,890 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kentucky at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in cities in Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabethtown, KY | $59,390 | 50 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $57,540 | 1,030 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $57,220 | 40 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $56,230 | 190 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $54,600 | 600 |
| Owensboro, KY | $54,350 | 30 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $53,540 | 90 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $52,420 | 100 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $46,100 | 100 |
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 |
Related jobs in Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $46,550 | $22.38 |
| Teller | $37,210 | $17.89 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $45,590 | $21.92 |
| Bill and Account Collectors | $48,330 | $23.24 |
| Procurement Clerk | $50,610 | $24.33 |
| Financial Clerks, All Other | $51,860 | $24.93 |
| Gambling Cage Worker | $34,860 | $16.76 |
| Customer Service Representative | $38,700 | $18.61 |
| Office Clerks, General | $37,870 | $18.21 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $38,750 | $18.63 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $63,180 | $30.38 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $44,200 | $21.25 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $42,830 | $20.59 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $32,940 | $15.84 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Kentucky
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 Kentucky?
The median salary for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Kentucky is $52,890 a year, or $25.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,590 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid payroll and timekeeping clerks make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of payroll and timekeeping clerks in Kentucky earn at least $76,590 a year. The top 25% earn $62,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,600 a year, and a quarter of payroll and timekeeping clerks earn $43,800 or less.
How many payroll and timekeeping clerks work in Kentucky?
About 1,670 payroll and timekeeping clerks are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.