Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in Modesto, CA
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in the Modesto, CA metro area earn a median of $61,980 a year ($29.80 an hour), based on BLS data for 260 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,700 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $58,260. Pay here is 5% lower than the California statewide median of $65,340. There are 1.3 payroll and timekeeping clerks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $63,190, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Modesto, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,710 | $21.02 |
| 25th percentile | $53,080 | $25.52 |
| Median | $61,980 | $29.80 |
| 75th percentile | $74,590 | $35.86 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,700 | $40.72 |
| Average (mean) | $63,190 | $30.38 |
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 | $5,165 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,582.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,383.85 |
| Weekly | $1,191.92 |
| Hourly | $29.80 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Modesto, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $55,040 | $26.46 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $51,000 | $24.52 |
| Teller | $46,190 | $22.21 |
| Bill and Account Collectors | $57,700 | $27.74 |
| Procurement Clerk | $48,590 | $23.36 |
| Office Clerks, General | $46,570 | $22.39 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $55,140 | $26.51 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $50,250 | $24.16 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $74,140 | $35.65 |
| Customer Service Representative | $47,230 | $22.71 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $47,430 | $22.80 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $44,610 | $21.45 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $62,950 | $30.26 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $77,900 | $37.45 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Modesto, CA
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 Modesto, CA?
The median salary for payroll and timekeeping clerks in the Modesto, CA metro area is $61,980 a year, or $29.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,700 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid payroll and timekeeping clerks make in Modesto, CA?
The top 10% of payroll and timekeeping clerks in the Modesto, CA metro area earn at least $84,700 a year. The top 25% earn $74,590 or more.
What is the starting pay for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Modesto, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,710 a year, and a quarter of payroll and timekeeping clerks earn $53,080 or less.
How many payroll and timekeeping clerks work in Modesto, CA?
About 260 payroll and timekeeping clerks are employed in the Modesto, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.