Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in Iowa
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in Iowa earn a median of $54,080 a year ($26.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,230 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $70,990 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $58,260. Iowa ranks 33rd of 51 states for payroll and timekeeping clerks pay. There are 0.79 payroll and timekeeping clerks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $56,960, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,410 | $18.95 |
| 25th percentile | $46,070 | $22.15 |
| Median | $54,080 | $26.00 |
| 75th percentile | $61,420 | $29.53 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $70,990 | $34.13 |
| Average (mean) | $56,960 | $27.38 |
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 | $4,506.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,253.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,080 |
| Weekly | $1,040 |
| Hourly | $26.00 |
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 Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $58,600 | 300 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $57,300 | 40 |
| Ames, IA | $56,920 | 30 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $56,900 | 160 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $56,870 | 460 |
| Iowa City, IA | $56,430 | 40 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $55,940 | 50 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $53,260 | 110 |
| Dubuque, IA | $44,260 | 80 |
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 Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $48,180 | $23.17 |
| Teller | $38,450 | $18.49 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $47,110 | $22.65 |
| Bill and Account Collectors | $46,000 | $22.12 |
| Procurement Clerk | $48,870 | $23.50 |
| Gambling Cage Worker | $37,230 | $17.90 |
| Financial Clerks, All Other | $51,770 | $24.89 |
| Customer Service Representative | $46,090 | $22.16 |
| Office Clerks, General | $44,310 | $21.30 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $45,150 | $21.71 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $40,980 | $19.70 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $64,400 | $30.96 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $47,590 | $22.88 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $37,330 | $17.95 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Iowa
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 Iowa?
The median salary for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Iowa is $54,080 a year, or $26.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $70,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid payroll and timekeeping clerks make in Iowa?
The top 10% of payroll and timekeeping clerks in Iowa earn at least $70,990 a year. The top 25% earn $61,420 or more.
What is the starting pay for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,410 a year, and a quarter of payroll and timekeeping clerks earn $46,070 or less.
How many payroll and timekeeping clerks work in Iowa?
About 1,230 payroll and timekeeping clerks are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.