Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,430 a year or less, while the top 10% make $67,970 or more. The middle half of payroll and timekeeping clerks in Chattanooga earn between $44,770 and $58,200.
- $38K10th
- $45K25th
- $52KMedian
- $58K75th
- $68K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,530 | $4,378 | $25.25 |
| Median | $51,870 | $4,322 | $24.94 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,770 | $3,731 | $21.52 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $58,200 | $4,850 | $27.98 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Payroll and timekeeping clerks in Chattanooga earn 3% less than the Tennessee average ($54,220) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($59,630). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $58,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $52,530 | $51,870 | $38,430 | $67,970 | 190 |
| Tennessee | $54,220 | $51,780 | $36,270 | $75,160 | 3,680 |
| United States | $59,630 | $58,260 | $39,500 | $81,350 | 153,140 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary after taxes in Chattanooga
On the average salary of $52,530, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $44,388 a year, or $3,699 a month and $1,707 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $44,388 | $3,699 |
| Working in GA | $42,515 | $3,543 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for payroll and timekeeping clerks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $52,530 buys what about $57,432 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 6th of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($57,010).
- Nashville$57,010
- Knoxville$55,890
- Memphis$54,270
- Kingsport$54,240
- Clarksville$53,330
- Chattanooga$52,530
- Jackson$50,750
- Morristown$50,150
- Cleveland$49,440
- Johnson City$47,480
Highest-paying cities for payroll and timekeeping clerks
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($84,640).
- San Jose, CA$84,640
- San Francisco, CA$81,730
- Seattle, WA$70,360
- Santa Rosa, CA$69,640
- Bremerton, WA$69,250
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Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in Chattanooga: questions
How much do payroll and timekeeping clerks make an hour in Chattanooga?
$25.25 an hour on average, and $24.94 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level payroll and timekeeping clerks salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,430 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,770, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the payroll and timekeeping clerks take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $44,388 a year ($3,699 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,530. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do payroll and timekeeping clerks earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($59,630).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 43-3051; area Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.71, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.71).
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