Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in Columbia, SC
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $52,240 a year ($25.12 an hour), based on BLS data for 220 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $71,280 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $58,260. Pay here is about the same as the South Carolina statewide median of $52,240. There are 0.56 payroll and timekeeping clerks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.57). The average (mean) salary is $53,710, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,240 | $18.38 |
| 25th percentile | $45,480 | $21.86 |
| Median | $52,240 | $25.12 |
| 75th percentile | $62,100 | $29.86 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,280 | $34.27 |
| Average (mean) | $53,710 | $25.82 |
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 | $4,353.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,176.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,009.23 |
| Weekly | $1,004.62 |
| Hourly | $25.12 |
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 other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $57,650 | 970 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $54,150 | 110 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $53,930 | 280 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $53,560 | 280 |
| Florence, SC | $51,860 | 60 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $51,490 | 390 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $50,200 | 60 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $48,660 | 40 |
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 South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $46,690 | $22.45 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $46,370 | $22.29 |
| Bill and Account Collectors | $39,370 | $18.93 |
| Teller | $43,560 | $20.94 |
| Procurement Clerk | $52,210 | $25.10 |
| Customer Service Representative | $37,430 | $18.00 |
| Office Clerks, General | $38,320 | $18.42 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $45,620 | $21.93 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $62,230 | $29.92 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $40,160 | $19.31 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $41,240 | $19.83 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $35,530 | $17.08 |
| Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks | $38,760 | $18.64 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $56,230 | $27.03 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Columbia, SC
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 Columbia, SC?
The median salary for payroll and timekeeping clerks in the Columbia, SC metro area is $52,240 a year, or $25.12 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $71,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid payroll and timekeeping clerks make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of payroll and timekeeping clerks in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $71,280 a year. The top 25% earn $62,100 or more.
What is the starting pay for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,240 a year, and a quarter of payroll and timekeeping clerks earn $45,480 or less.
How many payroll and timekeeping clerks work in Columbia, SC?
About 220 payroll and timekeeping clerks are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.