Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in California
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in California earn a median of $65,340 a year ($31.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 20,590 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,080 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $58,260. California ranks 2nd of 51 states for payroll and timekeeping clerks pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 1.1 payroll and timekeeping clerks per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $68,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for payroll and timekeeping clerks in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,120 | $22.17 |
| 25th percentile | $56,230 | $27.03 |
| Median | $65,340 | $31.41 |
| 75th percentile | $78,870 | $37.92 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,080 | $44.27 |
| Average (mean) | $68,580 | $32.97 |
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 | $5,445 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,722.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,513.08 |
| Weekly | $1,256.54 |
| Hourly | $31.41 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $80,510 | 2,260 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $77,950 | 1,000 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $68,870 | 300 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $68,380 | 120 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $65,810 | 2,000 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $65,040 | 6,600 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $63,810 | 1,840 |
| Vallejo, CA | $63,170 | 190 |
| Napa, CA | $62,920 | 100 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $62,050 | 90 |
| Modesto, CA | $61,980 | 260 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $61,310 | 320 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $61,230 | 340 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $61,200 | 1,630 |
| Merced, CA | $60,350 | 100 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $60,040 | 150 |
| Fresno, CA | $59,730 | 710 |
| Chico, CA | $59,720 | 80 |
| Salinas, CA | $59,530 | 270 |
| Yuba City, CA | $58,840 | 70 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $57,970 | 240 |
| El Centro, CA | $57,610 | 100 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $56,650 | 500 |
| Redding, CA | $55,430 | 80 |
| Visalia, CA | $54,890 | 240 |
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 California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $59,230 | $28.48 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $56,260 | $27.05 |
| Teller | $46,900 | $22.55 |
| Bill and Account Collectors | $57,930 | $27.85 |
| Procurement Clerk | $56,160 | $27.00 |
| Financial Clerks, All Other | $58,100 | $27.93 |
| Gambling Cage Worker | $37,650 | $18.10 |
| Office Clerks, General | $48,460 | $23.30 |
| Customer Service Representative | $49,560 | $23.83 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $55,400 | $26.64 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $77,590 | $37.30 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $54,490 | $26.20 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $46,520 | $22.36 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $44,100 | $21.20 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for payroll and timekeeping clerks in California is $65,340 a year, or $31.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,080 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid payroll and timekeeping clerks make in California?
The top 10% of payroll and timekeeping clerks in California earn at least $92,080 a year. The top 25% earn $78,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for payroll and timekeeping clerks in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,120 a year, and a quarter of payroll and timekeeping clerks earn $56,230 or less.
How many payroll and timekeeping clerks work in California?
About 20,590 payroll and timekeeping clerks are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.