Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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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.
Table of contents
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
Is this job meaningful
75% said they were satisfied with their job and 54% said they found their job meaningful.
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
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
Average hourly wage
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 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Accounting Technology and Bookkeeping
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
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.
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.
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.
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.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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