Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,510 a year or less, while the top 10% make $89,450 or more. The middle half of payroll and timekeeping clerks in Boston earn between $56,990 and $79,440.
- $51K10th
- $57K25th
- $67KMedian
- $79K75th
- $89K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $68,660 | $5,722 | $33.01 |
| Median | $66,930 | $5,578 | $32.18 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $56,990 | $4,749 | $27.40 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $79,440 | $6,620 | $38.19 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Payroll and timekeeping clerks in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($66,810) and 15% more than the U.S. average ($59,630). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $58,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $68,660 | $66,930 | $50,510 | $89,450 | 2,500 |
| Massachusetts | $66,810 | $63,670 | $49,110 | $86,360 | 3,280 |
| 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 Boston
On the average salary of $68,660, a single filer in Boston takes home about $54,019 a year, or $4,502 a month and $2,078 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $57,132 | $4,761 |
| Working in MA | $54,019 | $4,502 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for payroll and timekeeping clerks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $68,660 buys what about $63,418 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 10.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 1st of 6 Massachusetts metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boston$68,660
- Barnstable$67,460
- Worcester$61,650
- Amherst$60,250
- Springfield$60,130
- Pittsfield$59,590
All Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salaries in Massachusetts
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 Boston: questions
How much do payroll and timekeeping clerks make an hour in Boston?
$33.01 an hour on average, and $32.18 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level payroll and timekeeping clerks salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,510 a year and the 25th percentile is $56,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the payroll and timekeeping clerks take-home pay in Boston?
About $54,019 a year ($4,502 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $68,660. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do payroll and timekeeping clerks earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% more 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- 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 state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.94, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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