Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in Illinois
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in Illinois earn a median of $61,390 a year ($29.51 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,580 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,460 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $58,260. Illinois ranks 10th of 51 states for payroll and timekeeping clerks pay. There are 0.92 payroll and timekeeping clerks per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $62,460, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,670 | $19.07 |
| 25th percentile | $48,560 | $23.35 |
| Median | $61,390 | $29.51 |
| 75th percentile | $74,820 | $35.97 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $86,460 | $41.57 |
| Average (mean) | $62,460 | $30.03 |
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 | $5,115.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,557.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,361.15 |
| Weekly | $1,180.58 |
| Hourly | $29.51 |
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 Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $62,920 | 4,170 |
| Bloomington, IL | $62,400 | 60 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $59,200 | 80 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $59,190 | 1,530 |
| Springfield, IL | $57,680 | 80 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $57,220 | 40 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $56,900 | 160 |
| Decatur, IL | $56,780 | 40 |
| Rockford, IL | $55,630 | 120 |
| Peoria, IL | $55,100 | 160 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $43,610 | 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 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $49,560 | $23.83 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $49,730 | $23.91 |
| Teller | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| Bill and Account Collectors | $48,140 | $23.14 |
| Procurement Clerk | $47,770 | $22.97 |
| Financial Clerks, All Other | $56,980 | $27.40 |
| Gambling Cage Worker | $39,900 | $19.18 |
| Customer Service Representative | $46,130 | $22.18 |
| Office Clerks, General | $45,730 | $21.99 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $69,010 | $33.18 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $37,400 | $17.98 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $46,760 | $22.48 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $46,670 | $22.44 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Illinois is $61,390 a year, or $29.51 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,460 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid payroll and timekeeping clerks make in Illinois?
The top 10% of payroll and timekeeping clerks in Illinois earn at least $86,460 a year. The top 25% earn $74,820 or more.
What is the starting pay for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,670 a year, and a quarter of payroll and timekeeping clerks earn $48,560 or less.
How many payroll and timekeeping clerks work in Illinois?
About 5,580 payroll and timekeeping clerks are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.