Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,350 a year or less, while the top 10% make $82,460 or more. The middle half of payroll and timekeeping clerks in Madison earn between $54,220 and $69,010.
- $45K10th
- $54K25th
- $64KMedian
- $69K75th
- $82K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $63,080 | $5,257 | $30.33 |
| Median | $63,500 | $5,292 | $30.53 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $54,220 | $4,518 | $26.07 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $69,010 | $5,751 | $33.18 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Payroll and timekeeping clerks in Madison earn 6% more than the Wisconsin average ($59,710) and 6% more 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $63,080 | $63,500 | $45,350 | $82,460 | 360 |
| Wisconsin | $59,710 | $59,310 | $42,730 | $76,830 | 2,590 |
| 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 Madison
On the average salary of $63,080, a single filer in Madison takes home about $50,629 a year, or $4,219 a month and $1,947 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 (2026 rules).
Is Madison a good place for payroll and timekeeping clerks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Madison area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $63,080 buys what about $64,839 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 7.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 3rd of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Sheboygan pays the most ($66,210).
- Sheboygan$66,210
- Oshkosh$63,670
- Madison$63,080
- Appleton$60,630
- Kenosha$60,560
- Milwaukee$60,410
- Janesville$59,440
- Wausau$59,340
- La Crosse$59,030
- Eau Claire$58,780
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 Madison: questions
How much do payroll and timekeeping clerks make an hour in Madison?
$30.33 an hour on average, and $30.53 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level payroll and timekeeping clerks salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,350 a year and the 25th percentile is $54,220, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the payroll and timekeeping clerks take-home pay in Madison?
About $50,629 a year ($4,219 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $63,080.
Do payroll and timekeeping clerks earn more in Madison than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Madison, WI (31540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.89, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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