Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,710 a year or less, while the top 10% make $75,460 or more. The middle half of payroll and timekeeping clerks in Memphis earn between $44,980 and $61,790.
- $37K10th
- $45K25th
- $53KMedian
- $62K75th
- $75K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $54,270 | $4,522 | $26.09 |
| Median | $53,420 | $4,452 | $25.68 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,980 | $3,748 | $21.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,790 | $5,149 | $29.71 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Payroll and timekeeping clerks in Memphis earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($54,220) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($59,630). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $58,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $54,270 | $53,420 | $36,710 | $75,460 | 520 |
| 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 Memphis
On the average salary of $54,270, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $45,786 a year, or $3,815 a month and $1,761 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $45,786 | $3,815 |
| Working in MS | $44,347 | $3,696 |
| Working in AR | $44,266 | $3,689 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for payroll and timekeeping clerks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $54,270 buys what about $58,875 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 3rd 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 Memphis: questions
How much do payroll and timekeeping clerks make an hour in Memphis?
$26.09 an hour on average, and $25.68 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level payroll and timekeeping clerks salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,710 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,980, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the payroll and timekeeping clerks take-home pay in Memphis?
About $45,786 a year ($3,815 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $54,270. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do payroll and timekeeping clerks earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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 0.86, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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