359 metro areas
Payroll Clerk Salary by City (2026)
Payroll clerks earn the most in San Jose, CA, an average of $84,640 a year, against $59,630 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in San Jose, CA ($76,650 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.
- US average (mean)
- $59,630BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Highest-paying city
- $84,640San Jose, CA
- Best after cost of living
- $76,650San Jose, CA
- Metro areas
- 359With their own estimate
Top cities
Highest-paying cities for payroll clerks
Top 10 metro areas
- San Jose, CA$84,640
- San Francisco, CA$81,720
- Seattle, WA$70,370
- Santa Rosa, CA$69,640
- Bremerton, WA$69,240
- Los Angeles, CA$68,830
- Kahului, HI$68,680
- Boston, MA-NH$68,660
- Napa, CA$67,890
- Boulder, CO$67,870
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $84,640 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $81,720 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $70,370 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $69,640 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $69,240 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $68,830 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $68,680 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $68,660 |
| Napa, CA | $67,890 |
| Boulder, CO | $67,870 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Mean wage ÷ BEA price level
- San Jose, CA$84,640 nominal$76,650
- St. Joseph, MO-KS$63,440 nominal$73,440
- San Francisco, CA$81,720 nominal$70,680
- Bismarck, ND$64,270 nominal$70,610
- Sheboygan, WI$66,210 nominal$70,430
- Rochester, MN$63,190 nominal$69,580
- Des Moines, IA$63,400 nominal$69,140
- St. Cloud, MN$60,530 nominal$69,070
- Fargo, ND-MN$62,460 nominal$68,730
- Barnstable Town, MA$67,450 nominal$68,580
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $76,650 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $73,440 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $70,680 |
| Bismarck, ND | $70,610 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $70,430 |
| Rochester, MN | $69,580 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $69,140 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $69,070 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $68,730 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $68,580 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024
Every city
Payroll Clerk salary in every metro area
Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.
| # | Metro area | Mean | Entry (Level I) | Experienced (Level IV) | At US prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $84,640 | $61,840 | $95,870 | $76,650 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $81,720 | $58,910 | $92,980 | $70,680 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $70,370 | $54,180 | $78,330 | $63,320 |
| 4 | Santa Rosa, CA | $69,640 | $53,520 | $77,580 | $64,610 |
| 5 | Bremerton, WA | $69,240 | $51,920 | $77,790 | $65,560 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $68,830 | $52,980 | $76,630 | $60,610 |
| 7 | Kahului, HI | $68,680 | $55,870 | $75,000 | $62,780 |
| 8 | Boston, MA-NH | $68,660 | $52,270 | $76,730 | $63,420 |
| 9 | Napa, CA | $67,890 | $49,860 | $76,770 | $60,320 |
| 10 | Boulder, CO | $67,870 | $55,890 | $73,760 | $64,510 |
| 11 | Denver, CO | $67,870 | $50,980 | $76,190 | $64,160 |
| 12 | Bridgeport, CT | $67,850 | $52,440 | $75,440 | $63,490 |
| 13 | Olympia, WA | $67,700 | $50,460 | $76,210 | $65,300 |
| 14 | Fort Collins, CO | $67,580 | $50,670 | $75,920 | $66,830 |
| 15 | Barnstable Town, MA | $67,450 | $49,750 | $76,170 | $68,580 |
| 16 | Mount Vernon, WA | $67,140 | $50,770 | $75,210 | $65,540 |
| 17 | Sacramento, CA | $66,660 | $51,150 | $74,320 | $62,490 |
| 18 | Vallejo, CA | $66,440 | $50,040 | $74,530 | $61,250 |
| 19 | New Haven, CT | $66,310 | $50,480 | $74,090 | $63,420 |
| 20 | Santa Cruz, CA | $66,230 | $47,360 | $75,520 | $60,270 |
| 21 | Sheboygan, WI | $66,210 | $53,230 | $72,610 | $70,430 |
| 22 | New York, NY-NJ | $66,120 | $48,280 | $74,900 | $58,740 |
| 23 | San Diego, CA | $65,580 | $43,800 | $76,340 | $58,610 |
| 24 | Bellingham, WA | $65,420 | $57,220 | $69,450 | $63,310 |
| 25 | Fairbanks, AK | $65,290 | $51,420 | $72,110 | $63,260 |
| 26 | Longview, WA | $64,560 | $49,710 | $71,860 | $66,180 |
| 27 | Portland, OR-WA | $64,520 | $49,150 | $72,110 | $61,200 |
| 28 | Chicago, IL-IN | $64,400 | $45,120 | $73,900 | $62,170 |
| 29 | Minneapolis, MN-WI | $64,330 | $51,330 | $70,720 | $61,370 |
| 30 | Hartford, CT | $64,310 | $50,790 | $70,970 | $62,590 |
| 31 | Bismarck, ND | $64,270 | $52,080 | $70,260 | $70,610 |
| 32 | Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | $64,190 | $44,780 | $73,740 | $58,950 |
| 33 | Oshkosh, WI | $63,670 | $47,740 | $71,530 | $68,510 |
| 34 | Salem, OR | $63,610 | $46,650 | $71,970 | $61,370 |
| 35 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $63,610 | $47,740 | $71,410 | $57,330 |
| 36 | Riverside, CA | $63,590 | $45,970 | $72,260 | $59,740 |
| 37 | Oxnard, CA | $63,520 | $47,720 | $71,300 | $57,470 |
| 38 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $63,440 | $43,040 | $73,490 | $73,440 |
| 39 | Bozeman, MT | $63,420 | $46,800 | $71,610 | $61,870 |
| 40 | Des Moines, IA | $63,400 | $45,760 | $72,090 | $69,140 |
| 41 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $63,290 | $46,650 | $71,490 | $58,280 |
| 42 | Modesto, CA | $63,190 | $47,150 | $71,090 | $60,700 |
| 43 | Rochester, MN | $63,190 | $53,390 | $68,020 | $69,580 |
| 44 | Portland, ME | $63,130 | $47,670 | $70,740 | $61,980 |
| 45 | Madison, WI | $63,090 | $49,150 | $69,950 | $64,850 |
| 46 | Atlanta, GA | $62,960 | $46,260 | $71,180 | $62,920 |
| 47 | Manchester, NH | $62,860 | $45,410 | $71,450 | $59,490 |
| 48 | Spokane, WA | $62,820 | $49,030 | $69,620 | $62,600 |
| 49 | Baltimore, MD | $62,710 | $49,590 | $69,160 | $60,020 |
| 50 | Yakima, WA | $62,520 | $45,860 | $70,740 | $65,440 |
| 51 | Fargo, ND-MN | $62,460 | $50,480 | $68,350 | $68,730 |
| 52 | Kennewick, WA | $62,460 | $49,960 | $68,600 | $62,410 |
| 53 | Anchorage, AK | $62,440 | $51,110 | $68,040 | $59,230 |
| 54 | Hanford, CA | $62,440 | $46,130 | $70,490 | $61,450 |
| 55 | Merced, CA | $62,340 | $45,680 | $70,550 | $63,430 |
| 56 | Colorado Springs, CO | $62,320 | $44,870 | $70,910 | $61,880 |
| 57 | Kiryas Joel, NY | $62,320 | $48,650 | $69,060 | $56,950 |
| 58 | Stockton, CA | $62,300 | $45,740 | $70,450 | $59,280 |
| 59 | Norwich, CT | $62,190 | $47,440 | $69,450 | $61,910 |
| 60 | Waterbury, CT | $61,710 | $47,090 | $68,910 | $61,850 |
| 61 | Worcester, MA | $61,650 | $46,590 | $69,080 | $60,130 |
| 62 | Bend, OR | $61,630 | $46,720 | $68,970 | $59,480 |
| 63 | Corvallis, OR | $61,530 | $44,280 | $70,010 | $59,150 |
| 64 | Providence, RI-MA | $61,510 | $45,280 | $69,490 | $60,440 |
| 65 | Dayton, OH | $61,360 | $42,600 | $70,600 | $66,200 |
| 66 | Midland, MI | $61,210 | $43,870 | $69,760 | $66,590 |
| 67 | Wenatchee, WA | $61,210 | $45,910 | $68,760 | $58,940 |
| 68 | Yuba City, CA | $61,170 | $47,130 | $68,080 | $58,690 |
| 69 | Elizabethtown, KY | $60,820 | $50,020 | $66,140 | $67,150 |
| 70 | Santa Maria, CA | $60,820 | $43,870 | $69,160 | $55,900 |
| 71 | Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $60,780 | $44,910 | $68,580 | $59,270 |
| 72 | Appleton, WI | $60,630 | $45,590 | $68,040 | $65,600 |
| 73 | Kenosha, WI | $60,570 | $45,970 | $67,750 | $59,900 |
| 74 | Midland, TX | $60,570 | $42,330 | $69,560 | $63,240 |
| 75 | Lansing, MI | $60,530 | $46,030 | $67,660 | $63,720 |
| 76 | St. Cloud, MN | $60,530 | $50,710 | $65,350 | $69,070 |
| 77 | Fresno, CA | $60,490 | $43,830 | $68,680 | $59,210 |
| 78 | Kalamazoo, MI | $60,490 | $46,090 | $67,560 | $63,780 |
| 79 | Milwaukee, WI | $60,420 | $46,360 | $67,330 | $62,330 |
| 80 | Salinas, CA | $60,400 | $43,010 | $68,970 | $55,390 |
| 81 | Austin, TX | $60,360 | $42,430 | $69,180 | $61,550 |
| 82 | Reno, NV | $60,360 | $43,800 | $68,490 | $59,750 |
| 83 | Cleveland, OH | $60,300 | $44,870 | $67,890 | $64,200 |
| 84 | Columbus, OH | $60,300 | $44,390 | $68,140 | $63,160 |
| 85 | Grants Pass, OR | $60,300 | $47,150 | $66,770 | $61,680 |
| 86 | Chico, CA | $60,280 | $47,820 | $66,410 | $59,570 |
| 87 | Amherst Town, MA | $60,260 | $46,680 | $66,930 | $60,110 |
| 88 | Champaign, IL | $60,220 | $44,370 | $68,020 | $64,960 |
| 89 | Springfield, MA | $60,130 | $47,260 | $66,480 | $62,600 |
| 90 | Bloomington, IL | $60,110 | $40,210 | $69,930 | $64,260 |
| 91 | Staunton, VA | $60,090 | $45,070 | $67,500 | $65,940 |
| 92 | Charlottesville, VA | $60,030 | $45,570 | $67,140 | $60,550 |
| 93 | Ann Arbor, MI | $60,010 | $43,640 | $68,100 | $59,490 |
| 94 | Lincoln, NE | $59,950 | $47,550 | $66,060 | $65,460 |
| 95 | Eugene, OR | $59,860 | $43,260 | $68,020 | $58,940 |
| 96 | Detroit, MI | $59,720 | $43,280 | $67,810 | $59,540 |
| 97 | Iowa City, IA | $59,720 | $43,680 | $67,640 | $65,260 |
| 98 | Sandusky, OH | $59,630 | $45,800 | $66,460 | $66,790 |
| 99 | Bakersfield, CA | $59,590 | $42,950 | $67,790 | $59,070 |
| 100 | Pittsfield, MA | $59,590 | $45,990 | $66,290 | $62,660 |
| 101 | Redding, CA | $59,590 | $47,240 | $65,670 | $59,190 |
| 102 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $59,570 | $44,620 | $66,910 | $60,600 |
| 103 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $59,530 | $44,700 | $66,830 | $64,330 |
| 104 | Glens Falls, NY | $59,510 | $44,600 | $66,850 | $62,730 |
| 105 | Toledo, OH | $59,510 | $42,430 | $67,910 | $65,070 |
| 106 | Greeley, CO | $59,490 | $44,410 | $66,910 | $59,390 |
| 107 | Janesville, WI | $59,450 | $45,200 | $66,460 | $63,450 |
| 108 | Lexington, KY | $59,450 | $42,450 | $67,810 | $64,000 |
| 109 | Canton, OH | $59,430 | $42,620 | $67,700 | $66,470 |
| 110 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $59,340 | $41,640 | $68,060 | $62,410 |
| 111 | Wausau, WI | $59,340 | $47,900 | $64,980 | $64,050 |
| 112 | El Centro, CA | $59,220 | $40,930 | $68,220 | $62,220 |
| 113 | Topeka, KS | $59,200 | $48,800 | $64,330 | $66,650 |
| 114 | Mankato, MN | $59,160 | $48,400 | $64,460 | $65,040 |
| 115 | Pueblo, CO | $59,050 | $45,910 | $65,520 | $64,350 |
| 116 | La Crosse, WI-MN | $59,030 | $46,920 | $65,000 | $64,320 |
| 117 | Charlotte, NC-SC | $58,990 | $44,050 | $66,330 | $60,600 |
| 118 | Richmond, VA | $58,970 | $43,680 | $66,480 | $60,260 |
| 119 | Rochester, NY | $58,930 | $46,010 | $65,290 | $60,730 |
| 120 | Savannah, GA | $58,820 | $41,330 | $67,430 | $61,780 |
| 121 | Springfield, IL | $58,800 | $42,430 | $66,870 | $63,400 |
| 122 | Eau Claire, WI | $58,780 | $45,340 | $65,400 | $63,340 |
| 123 | Grand Island, NE | $58,780 | $47,200 | $64,480 | $67,830 |
| 124 | Las Vegas, NV | $58,760 | $41,330 | $67,330 | $58,630 |
| 125 | Albany, NY | $58,740 | $45,280 | $65,350 | $59,000 |
| 126 | Racine, WI | $58,720 | $42,350 | $66,790 | $61,190 |
| 127 | Lynchburg, VA | $58,700 | $45,490 | $65,190 | $65,690 |
| 128 | Omaha, NE-IA | $58,700 | $46,160 | $64,900 | $63,870 |
| 129 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $58,660 | $50,320 | $62,750 | $67,690 |
| 130 | Charleston, SC | $58,550 | $43,120 | $66,160 | $57,990 |
| 131 | Albany, OR | $58,510 | $45,010 | $65,150 | $57,310 |
| 132 | Peoria, IL | $58,510 | $41,850 | $66,710 | $64,130 |
| 133 | Dallas, TX | $58,450 | $39,710 | $67,680 | $56,700 |
| 134 | Salisbury, MD | $58,390 | $45,760 | $64,630 | $61,070 |
| 135 | Salt Lake City, UT | $58,360 | $44,050 | $65,400 | $57,860 |
| 136 | Decatur, IL | $58,320 | $38,710 | $68,000 | $65,960 |
| 137 | Fond du Lac, WI | $58,280 | $41,910 | $66,350 | $63,590 |
| 138 | Grand Junction, CO | $58,200 | $43,100 | $65,640 | $60,960 |
| 139 | Trenton, NJ | $58,160 | $40,960 | $66,640 | $56,370 |
| 140 | Wichita, KS | $58,140 | $42,740 | $65,710 | $65,370 |
| 141 | Provo, UT | $58,090 | $44,990 | $64,560 | $59,140 |
| 142 | Duluth, MN-WI | $58,070 | $48,010 | $63,040 | $65,420 |
| 143 | Billings, MT | $57,870 | $45,510 | $63,960 | $61,880 |
| 144 | Owensboro, KY | $57,840 | $41,100 | $66,080 | $65,270 |
| 145 | Syracuse, NY | $57,740 | $45,700 | $63,690 | $60,310 |
| 146 | Atlantic City, NJ | $57,720 | $45,070 | $63,940 | $58,390 |
| 147 | Medford, OR | $57,680 | $48,400 | $62,230 | $56,870 |
| 148 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $57,600 | $43,240 | $64,650 | $60,400 |
| 149 | Ames, IA | $57,570 | $48,610 | $61,980 | $64,810 |
| 150 | Allentown, PA-NJ | $57,510 | $40,080 | $66,080 | $57,530 |
| 151 | Harrisburg, PA | $57,470 | $42,470 | $64,880 | $58,260 |
| 152 | Ogden, UT | $57,470 | $45,410 | $63,420 | $57,270 |
| 153 | Saginaw, MI | $57,430 | $42,490 | $64,790 | $63,190 |
| 154 | Green Bay, WI | $57,350 | $41,450 | $65,170 | $61,610 |
| 155 | Rockford, IL | $57,300 | $41,930 | $64,880 | $62,180 |
| 156 | Warner Robins, GA | $57,260 | $40,870 | $65,350 | $61,050 |
| 157 | Reading, PA | $57,200 | $42,040 | $64,670 | $58,930 |
| 158 | Columbus, IN | $57,180 | $40,390 | $65,460 | $61,480 |
| 159 | Indianapolis, IN | $57,140 | $41,180 | $65,000 | $59,710 |
| 160 | Houston, TX | $57,080 | $42,430 | $64,290 | $57,870 |
| 161 | Miami, FL | $57,080 | $38,850 | $66,040 | $50,000 |
| 162 | Nashville, TN | $57,010 | $43,260 | $63,770 | $59,180 |
| 163 | Great Falls, MT | $56,990 | $45,510 | $62,650 | $58,850 |
| 164 | Lima, OH | $56,990 | $41,790 | $64,480 | $63,560 |
| 165 | Visalia, CA | $56,990 | $41,660 | $64,540 | $57,090 |
| 166 | Paducah, KY-IL | $56,930 | $41,540 | $64,500 | $66,130 |
| 167 | Hinesville, GA | $56,910 | $47,130 | $61,710 | $60,590 |
| 168 | Gainesville, GA | $56,850 | $41,060 | $64,630 | $58,750 |
| 169 | Odessa, TX | $56,850 | $43,870 | $63,230 | $60,550 |
| 170 | Buffalo, NY | $56,800 | $43,680 | $63,270 | $59,260 |
| 171 | Traverse City, MI | $56,760 | $44,300 | $62,900 | $60,790 |
| 172 | Harrisonburg, VA | $56,700 | $44,950 | $62,500 | $59,750 |
| 173 | Naples, FL | $56,700 | $35,940 | $66,910 | $54,940 |
| 174 | Akron, OH | $56,680 | $41,540 | $64,150 | $60,700 |
| 175 | Durham, NC | $56,620 | $39,770 | $64,920 | $58,030 |
| 176 | Boise City, ID | $56,580 | $45,140 | $62,210 | $57,510 |
| 177 | Hagerstown, MD-WV | $56,580 | $42,930 | $63,270 | $60,080 |
| 178 | Burlington, NC | $56,490 | $40,350 | $64,440 | $60,610 |
| 179 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $56,450 | $41,660 | $63,710 | $60,650 |
| 180 | Greenville, SC | $56,430 | $41,950 | $63,590 | $60,510 |
| 181 | Grand Rapids, MI | $56,330 | $39,080 | $64,810 | $58,960 |
| 182 | Elkhart, IN | $56,200 | $39,830 | $64,270 | $62,220 |
| 183 | Virginia Beach, VA-NC | $56,200 | $45,180 | $61,630 | $57,380 |
| 184 | Ithaca, NY | $56,140 | $45,070 | $61,590 | $54,340 |
| 185 | Pittsburgh, PA | $56,100 | $41,540 | $63,250 | $59,260 |
| 186 | Kokomo, IN | $55,990 | $41,040 | $63,340 | $62,460 |
| 187 | Knoxville, TN | $55,890 | $39,330 | $64,040 | $60,380 |
| 188 | Waterloo, IA | $55,830 | $40,500 | $63,400 | $64,130 |
| 189 | Lewiston, ME | $55,810 | $43,120 | $62,050 | $58,910 |
| 190 | Muskegon, MI | $55,720 | $42,310 | $62,340 | $60,230 |
| 191 | Waco, TX | $55,720 | $41,410 | $62,770 | $60,210 |
| 192 | Greensboro, NC | $55,560 | $39,560 | $63,440 | $59,830 |
| 193 | Crestview, FL | $55,520 | $43,870 | $61,280 | $57,220 |
| 194 | Palm Bay, FL | $55,520 | $39,080 | $63,610 | $55,520 |
| 195 | Brunswick, GA | $55,470 | $38,000 | $64,080 | $63,240 |
| 196 | Mansfield, OH | $55,450 | $39,850 | $63,130 | $62,390 |
| 197 | Winston, NC | $55,410 | $43,310 | $61,380 | $60,200 |
| 198 | Flint, MI | $55,330 | $42,370 | $61,730 | $59,470 |
| 199 | Tulsa, OK | $55,330 | $40,080 | $62,840 | $62,020 |
| 200 | Raleigh, NC | $55,270 | $36,550 | $64,480 | $56,310 |
| 201 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $55,220 | $40,120 | $62,670 | $55,090 |
| 202 | Jackson, MI | $55,180 | $40,060 | $62,630 | $60,120 |
| 203 | Farmington, NM | $55,100 | $41,790 | $61,650 | $62,820 |
| 204 | Spartanburg, SC | $55,100 | $38,520 | $63,270 | $60,520 |
| 205 | Lancaster, PA | $54,970 | $40,710 | $62,000 | $55,950 |
| 206 | Bloomington, IN | $54,870 | $37,980 | $63,190 | $57,710 |
| 207 | Columbus, GA-AL | $54,830 | $39,330 | $62,460 | $61,400 |
| 208 | North Port, FL | $54,830 | $38,400 | $62,920 | $53,540 |
| 209 | Macon, GA | $54,810 | $38,270 | $62,940 | $61,910 |
| 210 | Albuquerque, NM | $54,790 | $41,640 | $61,280 | $57,340 |
| 211 | Greenville, NC | $54,790 | $41,480 | $61,340 | $61,980 |
| 212 | Davenport, IA-IL | $54,770 | $38,580 | $62,730 | $61,480 |
| 213 | Winchester, VA-WV | $54,680 | $43,620 | $60,130 | $56,690 |
| 214 | Baton Rouge, LA | $54,660 | $36,860 | $63,420 | $60,210 |
| 215 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $54,660 | $43,060 | $60,380 | $63,220 |
| 216 | Erie, PA | $54,600 | $41,600 | $61,010 | $60,030 |
| 217 | Orlando, FL | $54,580 | $41,810 | $60,860 | $53,820 |
| 218 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $54,560 | $40,040 | $61,730 | $61,330 |
| 219 | Florence, SC | $54,500 | $38,440 | $62,420 | $62,810 |
| 220 | Jacksonville, FL | $54,390 | $40,520 | $61,210 | $54,670 |
| 221 | State College, PA | $54,330 | $37,750 | $62,500 | $56,150 |
| 222 | Tampa, FL | $54,330 | $39,080 | $61,840 | $53,850 |
| 223 | Augusta, GA-SC | $54,290 | $43,950 | $59,380 | $59,070 |
| 224 | Vineland, NJ | $54,290 | $42,870 | $59,900 | $56,570 |
| 225 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $54,270 | $39,750 | $61,420 | $58,870 |
| 226 | York, PA | $54,270 | $39,210 | $61,690 | $56,530 |
| 227 | Kingsport, TN-VA | $54,250 | $40,810 | $60,860 | $62,760 |
| 228 | Hilton Head Island, SC | $54,230 | $41,040 | $60,720 | $55,330 |
| 229 | Missoula, MT | $54,200 | $43,760 | $59,340 | $56,200 |
| 230 | Battle Creek, MI | $54,180 | $42,020 | $60,170 | $59,840 |
| 231 | Sherman, TX | $54,120 | $42,060 | $60,050 | $57,720 |
| 232 | Columbia, MO | $54,080 | $38,380 | $61,800 | $60,470 |
| 233 | Lakeland, FL | $54,060 | $40,160 | $60,900 | $55,650 |
| 234 | Hickory, NC | $54,040 | $38,600 | $61,650 | $61,070 |
| 235 | Chambersburg, PA | $53,980 | $41,140 | $60,300 | $57,040 |
| 236 | Roanoke, VA | $53,980 | $42,390 | $59,700 | $57,660 |
| 237 | New Orleans, LA | $53,930 | $37,090 | $62,230 | $58,240 |
| 238 | San Antonio, TX | $53,930 | $40,060 | $60,760 | $56,940 |
| 239 | Logan, UT-ID | $53,850 | $44,030 | $58,700 | $56,140 |
| 240 | Little Rock, AR | $53,830 | $39,810 | $60,740 | $60,240 |
| 241 | Monroe, MI | $53,770 | $38,650 | $61,210 | $57,510 |
| 242 | Springfield, MO | $53,750 | $37,770 | $61,630 | $60,680 |
| 243 | Columbia, SC | $53,710 | $40,100 | $60,400 | $57,340 |
| 244 | Athens, GA | $53,660 | $38,230 | $61,260 | $57,490 |
| 245 | Flagstaff, AZ | $53,600 | $36,420 | $62,070 | $53,430 |
| 246 | Asheville, NC | $53,580 | $39,480 | $60,530 | $55,520 |
| 247 | Kingston, NY | $53,560 | $40,960 | $59,760 | $53,180 |
| 248 | Tallahassee, FL | $53,540 | $40,100 | $60,150 | $57,010 |
| 249 | Wilmington, NC | $53,500 | $40,210 | $60,030 | $55,490 |
| 250 | Rome, GA | $53,480 | $39,640 | $60,280 | $59,320 |
| 251 | St. George, UT | $53,440 | $43,330 | $58,410 | $54,910 |
| 252 | Albany, GA | $53,410 | $39,620 | $60,220 | $60,920 |
| 253 | Deltona, FL | $53,410 | $35,610 | $62,190 | $53,750 |
| 254 | Phoenix, AZ | $53,390 | $39,330 | $60,320 | $51,680 |
| 255 | Punta Gorda, FL | $53,370 | $38,460 | $60,720 | $53,090 |
| 256 | Binghamton, NY | $53,330 | $43,950 | $57,950 | $57,430 |
| 257 | Cape Coral, FL | $53,330 | $36,840 | $61,440 | $52,110 |
| 258 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $53,330 | $40,290 | $59,760 | $58,640 |
| 259 | Huntsville, AL | $53,310 | $38,250 | $60,720 | $57,280 |
| 260 | Fort Wayne, IN | $53,290 | $40,250 | $59,720 | $57,570 |
| 261 | Killeen, TX | $53,270 | $40,960 | $59,320 | $58,450 |
| 262 | Evansville, IN | $53,080 | $39,080 | $59,990 | $57,990 |
| 263 | Gainesville, FL | $53,060 | $42,160 | $58,450 | $54,850 |
| 264 | South Bend, IN-MI | $52,920 | $39,460 | $59,530 | $56,990 |
| 265 | Lebanon, PA | $52,870 | $42,160 | $58,140 | $56,720 |
| 266 | Manhattan, KS | $52,850 | $44,800 | $56,830 | $58,620 |
| 267 | Joplin, MO-KS | $52,810 | $38,080 | $60,070 | $61,610 |
| 268 | Utica, NY | $52,810 | $40,460 | $58,910 | $56,980 |
| 269 | Bowling Green, KY | $52,770 | $39,440 | $59,320 | $58,520 |
| 270 | Lafayette, IN | $52,770 | $40,520 | $58,800 | $56,480 |
| 271 | Youngstown, OH | $52,770 | $37,810 | $60,130 | $60,380 |
| 272 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $52,520 | $39,730 | $58,840 | $57,420 |
| 273 | Valdosta, GA | $52,520 | $36,940 | $60,200 | $59,500 |
| 274 | Wildwood, FL | $52,440 | $43,040 | $57,080 | $61,390 |
| 275 | Dover, DE | $52,420 | $40,930 | $58,070 | $53,760 |
| 276 | Beaumont, TX | $52,170 | $39,330 | $58,490 | $57,940 |
| 277 | Longview, TX | $52,100 | $37,730 | $59,180 | $58,220 |
| 278 | Ocala, FL | $52,040 | $36,520 | $59,680 | $54,640 |
| 279 | Fayetteville, NC | $52,020 | $40,060 | $57,890 | $56,560 |
| 280 | Watertown, NY | $51,920 | $43,600 | $56,040 | $59,210 |
| 281 | Oklahoma City, OK | $51,560 | $34,990 | $59,720 | $57,030 |
| 282 | Jonesboro, AR | $51,540 | $37,380 | $58,530 | $60,020 |
| 283 | Jefferson City, MO | $51,420 | $34,990 | $59,510 | $58,450 |
| 284 | Muncie, IN | $51,380 | $35,340 | $59,280 | $58,290 |
| 285 | Altoona, PA | $51,310 | $39,600 | $57,100 | $57,330 |
| 286 | Decatur, AL | $51,310 | $37,960 | $57,890 | $58,830 |
| 287 | Tucson, AZ | $51,310 | $37,290 | $58,220 | $52,950 |
| 288 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $51,080 | $32,780 | $60,110 | $60,800 |
| 289 | Panama City, FL | $51,060 | $34,960 | $58,990 | $52,480 |
| 290 | Lafayette, LA | $51,040 | $33,950 | $59,470 | $58,530 |
| 291 | Slidell, LA | $51,000 | $33,110 | $59,800 | $55,000 |
| 292 | Blacksburg, VA | $50,960 | $39,460 | $56,640 | $54,970 |
| 293 | Scranton, PA | $50,900 | $35,760 | $58,360 | $54,410 |
| 294 | Idaho Falls, ID | $50,880 | $38,520 | $56,950 | $53,890 |
| 295 | Hammond, LA | $50,770 | $35,320 | $58,390 | $60,110 |
| 296 | Jackson, TN | $50,750 | $37,420 | $57,300 | $59,340 |
| 297 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $50,710 | $40,330 | $55,830 | $55,950 |
| 298 | Corpus Christi, TX | $50,590 | $38,560 | $56,510 | $54,590 |
| 299 | Amarillo, TX | $50,500 | $35,980 | $57,660 | $55,000 |
| 300 | Birmingham, AL | $50,440 | $37,320 | $56,910 | $55,040 |
| 301 | Michigan City, IN | $50,420 | $37,040 | $56,990 | $54,990 |
| 302 | Dalton, GA | $50,230 | $36,090 | $57,180 | $55,910 |
| 303 | Pensacola, FL | $50,170 | $34,340 | $57,950 | $51,340 |
| 304 | Bangor, ME | $50,150 | $42,200 | $54,080 | $51,960 |
| 305 | Morristown, TN | $50,150 | $37,130 | $56,580 | $58,070 |
| 306 | Niles, MI | $50,150 | $33,280 | $58,450 | $54,290 |
| 307 | Johnstown, PA | $50,130 | $36,400 | $56,910 | $58,340 |
| 308 | Lake Charles, LA | $50,130 | $33,430 | $58,340 | $58,390 |
| 309 | Jackson, MS | $50,040 | $34,510 | $57,700 | $56,190 |
| 310 | Myrtle Beach, SC | $49,880 | $37,150 | $56,140 | $53,270 |
| 311 | Hattiesburg, MS | $49,840 | $34,670 | $57,320 | $56,870 |
| 312 | Florence, AL | $49,820 | $36,750 | $56,240 | $58,740 |
| 313 | Houma, LA | $49,820 | $35,210 | $57,010 | $58,540 |
| 314 | College Station, TX | $49,710 | $38,020 | $55,470 | $54,660 |
| 315 | Rocky Mount, NC | $49,710 | $34,400 | $57,260 | $56,480 |
| 316 | Terre Haute, IN | $49,690 | $37,690 | $55,620 | $56,600 |
| 317 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $49,590 | $35,400 | $56,580 | $57,740 |
| 318 | Shreveport, LA | $49,590 | $33,530 | $57,510 | $58,500 |
| 319 | Cleveland, TN | $49,440 | $34,800 | $56,640 | $56,130 |
| 320 | Monroe, LA | $49,360 | $32,990 | $57,410 | $59,050 |
| 321 | Rapid City, SD | $49,170 | $41,930 | $52,730 | $55,150 |
| 322 | Abilene, TX | $49,110 | $34,010 | $56,560 | $54,350 |
| 323 | Weirton, WV-OH | $49,070 | $35,110 | $55,930 | $55,120 |
| 324 | El Paso, TX | $49,000 | $37,790 | $54,520 | $54,500 |
| 325 | Lubbock, TX | $48,940 | $36,880 | $54,890 | $53,590 |
| 326 | Springfield, OH | $48,900 | $38,000 | $54,290 | $54,040 |
| 327 | Fayetteville, AR | $48,760 | $35,670 | $55,200 | $53,380 |
| 328 | Wichita Falls, TX | $48,760 | $34,690 | $55,680 | $54,470 |
| 329 | Tyler, TX | $48,610 | $34,820 | $55,410 | $52,750 |
| 330 | San Angelo, TX | $48,570 | $34,260 | $55,600 | $52,530 |
| 331 | Twin Falls, ID | $48,570 | $37,000 | $54,250 | $52,730 |
| 332 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $48,420 | $34,070 | $55,490 | $56,250 |
| 333 | Lake Havasu City, AZ | $48,150 | $33,740 | $55,270 | $51,170 |
| 334 | Sierra Vista, AZ | $48,070 | $35,460 | $54,290 | $53,860 |
| 335 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $48,050 | $35,280 | $54,350 | $51,410 |
| 336 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $48,010 | $35,590 | $54,140 | $54,730 |
| 337 | Huntington, WV-KY-OH | $47,740 | $35,360 | $53,810 | $53,990 |
| 338 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $47,670 | $34,420 | $54,180 | $53,970 |
| 339 | Alexandria, LA | $47,510 | $33,280 | $54,520 | $55,450 |
| 340 | Johnson City, TN | $47,490 | $37,520 | $52,370 | $54,010 |
| 341 | Gulfport, MS | $47,380 | $34,610 | $53,660 | $52,640 |
| 342 | Mobile, AL | $47,010 | $33,780 | $53,500 | $53,360 |
| 343 | Jacksonville, NC | $46,920 | $35,730 | $52,440 | $50,950 |
| 344 | Montgomery, AL | $46,920 | $35,320 | $52,640 | $52,320 |
| 345 | Prescott Valley, AZ | $46,490 | $31,990 | $53,640 | $47,320 |
| 346 | Charleston, WV | $46,300 | $32,910 | $52,890 | $52,190 |
| 347 | Dubuque, IA | $45,070 | $37,730 | $48,670 | $51,610 |
| 348 | Lawton, OK | $44,760 | $24,880 | $54,580 | $52,080 |
| 349 | Morgantown, WV | $43,910 | $31,570 | $49,980 | $47,050 |
| 350 | Daphne, AL | $43,140 | $32,780 | $48,240 | $45,560 |
| 351 | Laredo, TX | $42,870 | $29,660 | $49,380 | $49,300 |
| 352 | McAllen, TX | $42,870 | $30,140 | $49,150 | $49,910 |
| 353 | Brownsville, TX | $42,120 | $30,120 | $48,030 | $48,990 |
| 354 | Yuma, AZ | $42,020 | $33,630 | $46,130 | $45,330 |
| 355 | Dothan, AL | $41,480 | $31,160 | $46,570 | $49,480 |
| 356 | San Juan, PR | $36,460 | $26,370 | $41,430 | N/A |
| 357 | Aguadilla, PR | $34,150 | $24,880 | $38,730 | N/A |
| 358 | Mayaguez, PR | $33,990 | $25,480 | $38,170 | N/A |
| 359 | Ponce, PR | $31,780 | $25,210 | $35,010 | N/A |
More
More on payroll clerks
Method
About these numbers
- Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
- Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
- OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
- At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.
Questions
Payroll Clerk salary by city: FAQ
Which city pays payroll clerks the most?
San Jose, CA, where the average (mean) wage is $84,640 a year, followed by San Francisco, CA ($81,720), Seattle, WA ($70,370), Santa Rosa, CA ($69,640). The national mean is $59,630 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Where do payroll clerks earn the most after cost of living?
Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in San Jose, CA ($76,650 at national prices, $84,640 nominal), St. Joseph, MO-KS ($73,440 at national prices, $63,440 nominal), San Francisco, CA ($70,680 at national prices, $81,720 nominal).
How much do payroll clerks make in the biggest cities?
New York, NY-NJ: $66,120; Los Angeles, CA: $68,830; Chicago, IL-IN: $64,400; Dallas, TX: $58,450; Houston, TX: $57,080 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).
Where do payroll clerks earn the least?
Of the 359 metro areas with their own estimate, Ponce, PR has the lowest mean wage, $31,780.