Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in Pennsylvania
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in Pennsylvania earn a median of $55,690 a year ($26.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,170 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,980 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $58,260. Pennsylvania ranks 28th of 51 states for payroll and timekeeping clerks pay. There are 0.85 payroll and timekeeping clerks per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $56,880, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,630 | $19.05 |
| 25th percentile | $46,540 | $22.38 |
| Median | $55,690 | $26.78 |
| 75th percentile | $64,590 | $31.05 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,980 | $37.01 |
| Average (mean) | $56,880 | $27.34 |
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 | $4,640.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,320.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,141.92 |
| Weekly | $1,070.96 |
| Hourly | $26.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $55,690 salary, see how much house you can afford in Pennsylvania at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in cities in Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $58,810 | 2,410 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $57,780 | 260 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $57,490 | 220 |
| Lancaster, PA | $55,140 | 250 |
| Erie, PA | $54,900 | 80 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $53,960 | 170 |
| Reading, PA | $53,680 | 150 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $52,400 | 1,130 |
| Lebanon, PA | $51,980 | 50 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $50,810 | 40 |
| Altoona, PA | $50,790 | 40 |
| State College, PA | $50,550 | 70 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $49,060 | 180 |
| Johnstown, PA | $47,420 | 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 |
Related jobs in Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $48,440 | $23.29 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $46,890 | $22.55 |
| Teller | $40,200 | $19.33 |
| Bill and Account Collectors | $46,660 | $22.43 |
| Procurement Clerk | $53,800 | $25.87 |
| Financial Clerks, All Other | $51,650 | $24.83 |
| Gambling Cage Worker | $38,980 | $18.74 |
| Office Clerks, General | $44,950 | $21.61 |
| Customer Service Representative | $44,630 | $21.46 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $46,270 | $22.25 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $65,270 | $31.38 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $36,810 | $17.70 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $45,780 | $22.01 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $44,930 | $21.60 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania?
The median salary for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Pennsylvania is $55,690 a year, or $26.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,980 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid payroll and timekeeping clerks make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of payroll and timekeeping clerks in Pennsylvania earn at least $76,980 a year. The top 25% earn $64,590 or more.
What is the starting pay for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,630 a year, and a quarter of payroll and timekeeping clerks earn $46,540 or less.
How many payroll and timekeeping clerks work in Pennsylvania?
About 5,170 payroll and timekeeping clerks are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.