Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks pay range in Watertown
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,770 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,860 or more. The middle half of payroll and timekeeping clerks in Watertown earn between $45,310 and $56,430.
- $42K10th
- $45K25th
- $52KMedian
- $56K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,920 | $4,327 | $24.96 |
| Median | $51,630 | $4,302 | $24.82 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,310 | $3,776 | $21.78 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $56,430 | $4,702 | $27.13 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks pay in Watertown vs. New York and the U.S.
Payroll and timekeeping clerks in Watertown earn 18% less than the New York average ($63,650) and 13% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown | $51,920 | $51,630 | $41,770 | $60,860 | 40 |
| New York | $63,650 | $61,040 | $45,140 | $86,470 | 8,400 |
| 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 Watertown
On the average salary of $51,920, a single filer in Watertown takes home about $41,647 a year, or $3,471 a month and $1,602 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Watertown a good place for payroll and timekeeping clerks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Watertown area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.7), so the average $51,920 buys what about $59,209 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Watertown ($47,600). A typical home costs $230,401, or 4.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in other New York cities
Watertown ranks 12th of 12 New York metro areas for this job; New York pays the most ($66,110).
- New York$66,110
- Kiryas Joel$62,320
- Glens Falls$59,500
- Rochester$58,930
- Albany$58,730
- Syracuse$57,750
- Buffalo$56,800
- Ithaca$56,130
- Kingston$53,550
- Watertown$51,920
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 Watertown: questions
How much do payroll and timekeeping clerks make an hour in Watertown?
$24.96 an hour on average, and $24.82 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level payroll and timekeeping clerks salary in Watertown?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,770 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,310, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the payroll and timekeeping clerks take-home pay in Watertown?
About $41,647 a year ($3,471 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,920. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do payroll and timekeeping clerks earn more in Watertown than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY (48060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- 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 (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.06, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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