Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in New Jersey
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in New Jersey earn a median of $60,750 a year ($29.21 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,290 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,990 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $58,260. New Jersey ranks 14th of 51 states for payroll and timekeeping clerks pay. There are 1.0 payroll and timekeeping clerks per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $62,510, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for payroll and timekeeping clerks in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,990 | $20.67 |
| 25th percentile | $50,440 | $24.25 |
| Median | $60,750 | $29.21 |
| 75th percentile | $73,350 | $35.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,990 | $40.86 |
| Average (mean) | $62,510 | $30.05 |
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 | $5,062.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,531.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,336.54 |
| Weekly | $1,168.27 |
| Hourly | $29.21 |
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 New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $63,500 | 7,770 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $58,810 | 2,410 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $57,780 | 260 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $54,870 | 210 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $54,560 | 140 |
| Vineland, NJ | $50,790 | 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 New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $58,300 | $28.03 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $51,750 | $24.88 |
| Teller | $47,210 | $22.70 |
| Bill and Account Collectors | $52,510 | $25.25 |
| Procurement Clerk | $57,460 | $27.62 |
| Financial Clerks, All Other | $57,920 | $27.85 |
| Gambling Cage Worker | $41,430 | $19.92 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $50,260 | $24.16 |
| Office Clerks, General | $48,570 | $23.35 |
| Customer Service Representative | $47,740 | $22.95 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $76,640 | $36.85 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $41,650 | $20.02 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $45,440 | $21.85 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $48,660 | $23.39 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in New Jersey
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for payroll and timekeeping clerks in New Jersey is $60,750 a year, or $29.21 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid payroll and timekeeping clerks make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of payroll and timekeeping clerks in New Jersey earn at least $84,990 a year. The top 25% earn $73,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for payroll and timekeeping clerks in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,990 a year, and a quarter of payroll and timekeeping clerks earn $50,440 or less.
How many payroll and timekeeping clerks work in New Jersey?
About 4,290 payroll and timekeeping clerks are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.