Payroll Clerk

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Work Tasks

PAYROLL CLERKS make sure that employees are paid on time and that their paychecks are correct. They screen time cards for coding, calculating, or other errors. Payroll clerks adjust monetary errors or incorrect amounts of vacation time, research these records, and perform other clerical tasks. Payroll clerks compute earnings by subtracting allotments such as retirement, federal and state taxes, retirement insurance, or savings from gross earnings. They also compute vacation days and sick leave balances.

Salary, Size & Growth

• $39,500 average per year ($19.00 per hour)
• A large occupation (180,300 workers in 2010)
• Expected to decline (0.5% per year)

Entry Requirements

Most PAYROLL CLERK jobs are entry-level positions. Most employers require applicants to have at least a high school diploma or its equivalent. A higher level of education will generally be favored over a high school diploma, but it is not usually required. Most employers prefer workers who are computer literate. Knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet software is especially valuable. Once hired, payroll clerks generally receive on-the-job training under the guidance of a supervisor or senior worker. No special licensing or certification is required for payroll clerks.