Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area earn a median of $54,870 a year ($26.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 210 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,650 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $58,260. Pay here is 10% lower than the New Jersey statewide median of $60,750. There are 0.87 payroll and timekeeping clerks per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $58,160, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,780 | $18.64 |
| 25th percentile | $45,480 | $21.87 |
| Median | $54,870 | $26.38 |
| 75th percentile | $67,120 | $32.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,650 | $40.70 |
| Average (mean) | $58,160 | $27.96 |
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 | $4,572.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,286.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,110.38 |
| Weekly | $1,055.19 |
| Hourly | $26.38 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $54,870 salary, see how much house you can afford in New Jersey 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 |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $63,500 | 7,770 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $58,810 | 2,410 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $57,780 | 260 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $54,560 | 140 |
| Vineland, NJ | $50,790 | 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 New Jersey statewide figures.
Related jobs in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $58,020 | $27.89 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $50,730 | $24.39 |
| Teller | $45,400 | $21.83 |
| Bill and Account Collectors | $52,510 | $25.24 |
| Financial Clerks, All Other | $64,740 | $31.13 |
| Procurement Clerk | $58,200 | $27.98 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $54,050 | $25.99 |
| Customer Service Representative | $47,590 | $22.88 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $79,460 | $38.20 |
| Office Clerks, General | $48,730 | $23.43 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $40,550 | $19.49 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $80,700 | $38.80 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $45,090 | $21.68 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $49,180 | $23.65 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The median salary for payroll and timekeeping clerks in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area is $54,870 a year, or $26.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,650 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid payroll and timekeeping clerks make in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The top 10% of payroll and timekeeping clerks in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area earn at least $84,650 a year. The top 25% earn $67,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,780 a year, and a quarter of payroll and timekeeping clerks earn $45,480 or less.
How many payroll and timekeeping clerks work in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
About 210 payroll and timekeeping clerks are employed in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area, not counting the self-employed.