Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks
Financial clerks do administrative work, help customers, and carry out transactions that involve money.
Is payroll and timekeeping clerks a good career?
It scores 12/100 and ranks #620 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- No college degree typically required to enter
Possible tradeoffs
- Employment is projected to decline (-16.7% through 2034)
What payroll and timekeeping clerks earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. payroll and timekeeping clerks earn between $47,990 and $69,600 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Live payroll and timekeeping clerks jobs
No live payroll and timekeeping clerks openings yet
When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified payroll and timekeeping clerks openings will appear here — each shown against the $58,260 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.
No placeholder listings · nothing inventedHow to become a payroll and timekeeping clerk
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow decline through 2034.
Education
Financial clerks typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the occupation. Employers of brokerage clerks may prefer candidates who have taken some college courses in business or economics and, in some cases, have a 2- or 4-year college degree.
Training
Most financial clerks learn how to do their job duties through on-the-job training. Some formal technical training also may be necessary; for example, gambling cage workers may need training in specific gambling regulations and procedures.
Advancement
Financial clerks may advance to related occupations in finance. For example, a loan interviewer or clerk may become a loan officer, and a brokerage clerk may become a securities, commodities, and financial services sales agent, after obtaining the required education and license.
Important qualities
Communication skills. Financial clerks should be able to explain policies and procedures to colleagues and customers.
Math skills. The job duties of financial clerks includes calculating charges and updating financial records.
Organizational skills. Financial clerks must be able to arrange files so they can find them quickly and efficiently.
Related occupations
How much do payroll and timekeeping clerks make?
The national median wage is $58,260 a year, with the middle half earning between $47,990 and $69,600 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is payroll and timekeeping clerks a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 12 of 100 and ranks #620 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change -16.7% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a payroll and timekeeping clerk?
The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent.
Where do payroll and timekeeping clerks earn the most?
Among states, District of Columbia pays the highest median ($74,670). Local pay for every state and metro is below.