Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in Washington
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in Washington earn a median of $64,560 a year ($31.04 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,560 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,290 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $58,260. Washington ranks 3rd of 51 states for payroll and timekeeping clerks pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 1.0 payroll and timekeeping clerks per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $67,810, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,220 | $24.14 |
| 25th percentile | $58,310 | $28.04 |
| Median | $64,560 | $31.04 |
| 75th percentile | $76,390 | $36.72 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,290 | $42.93 |
| Average (mean) | $67,810 | $32.60 |
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 | $5,380 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,690 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,483.08 |
| Weekly | $1,241.54 |
| Hourly | $31.04 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $64,560 salary, see how much house you can afford in Washington at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in cities in Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $66,800 | 60 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $66,650 | 50 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $66,630 | 1,980 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $65,790 | 80 |
| Bellingham, WA | $64,990 | 140 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $64,440 | 60 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $64,170 | 1,850 |
| Yakima, WA | $64,050 | 110 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $63,680 | 70 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $63,400 | 230 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $62,430 | 110 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $58,620 | $28.18 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $56,090 | $26.96 |
| Teller | $47,670 | $22.92 |
| Bill and Account Collectors | $48,460 | $23.30 |
| Procurement Clerk | $52,910 | $25.44 |
| Gambling Cage Worker | $41,720 | $20.06 |
| Financial Clerks, All Other | $58,970 | $28.35 |
| Office Clerks, General | $50,500 | $24.28 |
| Customer Service Representative | $50,330 | $24.20 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $79,480 | $38.21 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $57,330 | $27.56 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $44,710 | $21.49 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $51,590 | $24.80 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $79,250 | $38.10 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Washington is $64,560 a year, or $31.04 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,290 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid payroll and timekeeping clerks make in Washington?
The top 10% of payroll and timekeeping clerks in Washington earn at least $89,290 a year. The top 25% earn $76,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,220 a year, and a quarter of payroll and timekeeping clerks earn $58,310 or less.
How many payroll and timekeeping clerks work in Washington?
About 3,560 payroll and timekeeping clerks are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.