Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $77,980 or more. The middle half of payroll and timekeeping clerks in Knoxville earn between $44,460 and $65,000.
- $37K10th
- $44K25th
- $53KMedian
- $65K75th
- $78K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $55,890 | $4,658 | $26.87 |
| Median | $52,910 | $4,409 | $25.44 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,460 | $3,705 | $21.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31.25 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Payroll and timekeeping clerks in Knoxville earn 3% more than the Tennessee average ($54,220) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($59,630). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $58,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $55,890 | $52,910 | $37,020 | $77,980 | 500 |
| 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 Knoxville
On the average salary of $55,890, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $47,088 a year, or $3,924 a month and $1,811 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Knoxville a good place for payroll and timekeeping clerks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Knoxville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $55,890 buys what about $60,377 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 6.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 2nd 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 Knoxville: questions
How much do payroll and timekeeping clerks make an hour in Knoxville?
$26.87 an hour on average, and $25.44 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level payroll and timekeeping clerks salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,460, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the payroll and timekeeping clerks take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $47,088 a year ($3,924 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $55,890. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do payroll and timekeeping clerks earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Knoxville, TN (28940). 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 1.20, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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