Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in South Carolina
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in South Carolina earn a median of $52,240 a year ($25.12 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,550 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,660 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $58,260. South Carolina ranks 39th of 51 states for payroll and timekeeping clerks pay. There are 0.67 payroll and timekeeping clerks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.68). The average (mean) salary is $54,950, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for payroll and timekeeping clerks in South Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,180 | $18.36 |
| 25th percentile | $45,500 | $21.87 |
| Median | $52,240 | $25.12 |
| 75th percentile | $62,400 | $30.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,660 | $37.34 |
| Average (mean) | $54,950 | $26.42 |
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 | $4,353.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,176.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,009.23 |
| Weekly | $1,004.62 |
| Hourly | $25.12 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $52,240 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in cities in South Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $57,650 | 970 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $54,150 | 110 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $53,930 | 280 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $53,560 | 280 |
| Columbia, SC | $52,240 | 220 |
| Florence, SC | $51,860 | 60 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $51,490 | 390 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $50,200 | 60 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $48,660 | 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 South Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $47,940 | $23.05 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $45,250 | $21.75 |
| Bill and Account Collectors | $43,140 | $20.74 |
| Teller | $42,280 | $20.33 |
| Procurement Clerk | $49,810 | $23.95 |
| Financial Clerks, All Other | $49,780 | $23.93 |
| Customer Service Representative | $38,860 | $18.69 |
| Office Clerks, General | $36,840 | $17.71 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $62,920 | $30.25 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $40,170 | $19.31 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $43,430 | $20.88 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $35,510 | $17.07 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $57,640 | $27.71 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in South Carolina
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 South Carolina?
The median salary for payroll and timekeeping clerks in South Carolina is $52,240 a year, or $25.12 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid payroll and timekeeping clerks make in South Carolina?
The top 10% of payroll and timekeeping clerks in South Carolina earn at least $77,660 a year. The top 25% earn $62,400 or more.
What is the starting pay for payroll and timekeeping clerks in South Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,180 a year, and a quarter of payroll and timekeeping clerks earn $45,500 or less.
How many payroll and timekeeping clerks work in South Carolina?
About 1,550 payroll and timekeeping clerks are employed in South Carolina, not counting the self-employed.