Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in Madison, WI
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $63,500 a year ($30.53 an hour), based on BLS data for 360 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,460 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $58,260. Pay here is 7% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $59,310. There are 0.87 payroll and timekeeping clerks per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $63,080, close to the median.
Pay range for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,350 | $21.80 |
| 25th percentile | $54,220 | $26.07 |
| Median | $63,500 | $30.53 |
| 75th percentile | $69,010 | $33.18 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,460 | $39.64 |
| Average (mean) | $63,080 | $30.33 |
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 | $5,291.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,645.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,442.31 |
| Weekly | $1,221.15 |
| Hourly | $30.53 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $64,690 | 70 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $63,060 | 1,920 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $62,400 | 50 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $60,510 | 690 |
| Appleton, WI | $60,240 | 100 |
| Kenosha, WI | $59,790 | 80 |
| Wausau, WI | $59,650 | 60 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $59,460 | 80 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $58,500 | 70 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $58,180 | 70 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $58,150 | 80 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $57,760 | 110 |
| Green Bay, WI | $57,510 | 150 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $54,400 | 50 |
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 Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $53,240 | $25.60 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $49,570 | $23.83 |
| Teller | $43,380 | $20.85 |
| Bill and Account Collectors | $49,090 | $23.60 |
| Procurement Clerk | $51,700 | $24.86 |
| Financial Clerks, All Other | $59,280 | $28.50 |
| Customer Service Representative | $47,500 | $22.84 |
| Office Clerks, General | $46,590 | $22.40 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $51,410 | $24.72 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $75,290 | $36.20 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $43,600 | $20.96 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $47,200 | $22.69 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $48,380 | $23.26 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $70,800 | $34.04 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Madison, WI
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 Madison, WI?
The median salary for payroll and timekeeping clerks in the Madison, WI metro area is $63,500 a year, or $30.53 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,460 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid payroll and timekeeping clerks make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of payroll and timekeeping clerks in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $82,460 a year. The top 25% earn $69,010 or more.
What is the starting pay for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,350 a year, and a quarter of payroll and timekeeping clerks earn $54,220 or less.
How many payroll and timekeeping clerks work in Madison, WI?
About 360 payroll and timekeeping clerks are employed in the Madison, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.