What Does A Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

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Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Payroll Clerks

Payroll Clerks compile and record employee time and payroll data. May compute employees' time worked, production, and commission. May compute and post wages and deductions, or prepare paychecks.

Salary
$48290
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality


What they do

Payroll Clerks compile and record employee time and payroll data. May compute employees' time worked, production, and commission. May compute and post wages and deductions, or prepare paychecks.

  • Process and issue employee paychecks and statements of earnings and deductions.
  • Compute wages and deductions, and enter data into computers.
  • Review timesheets, work charts, wage computation, and other information to detect and reconcile payroll discrepancies.
  • Compile employee time, production, and payroll data from timesheets and other records.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Payroll Clerks complete timesheets showing employees’ arrival and departure times. They verify attendance, hours worked, and pay adjustments, and post information onto designated records.

A typical day for a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk will also include:

  • Compile employee time, production, and payroll data from timesheets and other records.
  • Review timesheets, work charts, wage computation, and other information to detect and reconcile payroll discrepancies.
  • Keep track of leave time, such as vacation, personal, and sick leave, for employees.
  • Provide information to employees and managers on payroll matters, tax issues, benefit plans, and collective agreement provisions.
  • Balance cash and payroll accounts.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Payroll Clerks also prepare and balance period-end reports, and reconcile issued payrolls to bank statements. They may also process and issue employee paychecks and statements of earnings and deductions.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Payroll Clerks complete, verify, and process forms and documentation for the administration of benefits, such as pension plans, and unemployment and medical insurance. They might also compile statistical reports, statements, and summaries related to pay and benefits accounts, and submit them to appropriate departments.

In addition, they post relevant work hours to client files to bill clients properly.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them balance cash and payroll accounts.

To some Payroll Clerks, it is also their responsibility to issue and record adjustments to pay related to previous errors or retroactive increases.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Very High

Is this job meaningful

Average

75% said they were satisfied with their job and 54% said they found their job meaningful.


Find Zambia Jobs

My typical routine daily tasks as a Payroll Clerk are; enter employee time and payroll data from timesheets, review time sheets, wage computation, reconciling payroll discrepancies, keep track of all forms of employees leave, provide information to employees and managers on payroll matters, tax-related issues, benefit plans, reconcile cash and payroll accounts. Cons Typical cons … Read More


ConnectPay

My day starts by reviewing the payroll schedule in order to prioritize my day. I then verify emails and print payroll worksheets along with changes that need to be made for an employer or an employee prior to processing a payroll. Changes received include updating a bank account, entering exemptions, deductions, direct deposits, employee entry, … Read More


Pros

Suitable for people who like to follow routines.

Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.

This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.

It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.

Normal working hours (40 hours per week).

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to work with designs.

Salary is below average.

How much do they make

Average salary

$48290 per year

Average hourly wage

$23 per hour

Entry-level Payroll Clerks with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $30,950 to $37,720 per year or $15 to $18 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $67,600 $32
Senior (Top 25%) $58,000 $28
Median $47,020 $23
Junior (Bottom 25%) $37,720 $18
No experience (Bottom 10%) $30,950 $15

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Payroll Clerks based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Local Messengers and Local Delivery $68760 $33.06
Grain and Oilseed Milling $63890 $30.71
Natural Gas Distribution $60940 $29.30
Water, Sewage and Other Systems $60670 $29.17
Software Publishers $59680 $28.69
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods $59630 $28.67
Other Information Services $59440 $28.58
Grantmaking and Giving Services $58760 $28.25
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution $58730 $28.23
Rail Transportation $58630 $28.19

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Payroll Clerks work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Payroll Clerks including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Management of Companies and Enterprises 13540 $51060 $24.55
Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services 12830 $44450 $21.37
Elementary and Secondary Schools 7560 $48890 $23.50
Employment Services 7010 $47030 $22.61
Local Government 6780 $50890 $24.46
Office Administrative Services 3200 $48140 $23.14
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 2990 $48250 $23.20
Building Equipment Contractors 2750 $48790 $23.46
Federal Executive Branch 2740 $46320 $22.27
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 2730 $47080 $22.63

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
11%

40 hours
44%

More than 40 hours
44%

Working schedule

91%

9%

0%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
10%

Every day
90%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
7%

Every day
93%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
35%

Every day
62%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
63%

Once a year
17%

Once a month
17%

Once a week
3%

Every day
0%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
14%

Slightly competitive
11%

Moderately competitive
49%

Highly competitive
22%

Extremely competitive
5%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
24%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
76%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
98%

Once a year or more
2%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
91%

Once a year or more
2%

Once a month or more
1%

Once a week or more
6%

Every day
0%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
93%

Once a year or more
1%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
5%

Every day
0%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Easy
You may need some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Most careers in this difficulty category usually don’t require a degree. However, you will need a few months of on-the-job training with experienced employees. Similar careers include Customer Service Representatives, Security Guards, and Bank Tellers.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
0%

High School Diploma or equivalent
39%

Post-Secondary Certificate
13%

Some College Courses
21%

Associate’s Degree or similar
17%

Bachelor’s Degree
8%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
1%

Master’s Degree
2%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

Accounting Technology and Bookkeeping

A program that prepares individuals to provide technical administrative support to professional accountants and other financial management personnel. Includes instruction in posting transactions to accounts, record-keeping systems, accounting software operation, and general accounting principles and practices.

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
4%

1 month
12%

1 to 3 months
7%

3 to 6 months
0%

6 months to 1 year
11%

1 to 2 years
24%

2 to 4 years
24%

4 to 6 years
3%

6 to 8 years
0%

8 to 10 years
2%

Over 10 years
13%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
0%

1 month
41%

1 to 3 months
34%

3 to 6 months
14%

6 months to 1 year
5%

1 to 2 years
6%

2 to 4 years
0%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Organizer

People with this personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.

The Builder
24%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
14%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
14%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
29%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
52%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
100%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk-taking and often deal with business.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
48%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
48%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
43%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
71%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
62%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
48%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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