Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Salary in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
The median pay for a payroll and timekeeping clerks in Charleston-North Charleston, SC is $53,060/year ($25.51/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $77K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.96), that's roughly $52,555 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,787/month — about 51.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $53K get you in Charleston-North Charleston?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Charleston-North Charleston’s Regional Price Parity (100.96). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About payroll and timekeeping clerks
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Entry-level payroll and timekeeping clerks (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $53K. Top earners bring in $77K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $69K | +25% | 350 |
| Washington | $62K | +13% | 3,880 |
| California | $62K | +12% | 23,180 |
| Minnesota | $61K | +10% | 2,700 |
| Connecticut | $61K | +10% | 1,540 |
| New Hampshire | $61K | +10% | 1,030 |
| New York | $61K | +10% | 9,040 |
| Massachusetts | $60K | +9% | 3,470 |
| Illinois | $60K | +9% | 6,060 |
| New Jersey | $60K | +8% | 4,350 |
| Rhode Island | $60K | +8% | 290 |
| Oregon | $59K | +7% | 2,780 |
| Alaska | $59K | +7% | 290 |
| Vermont | $59K | +7% | 220 |
| North Dakota | $59K | +6% | 290 |
| Idaho | $58K | +5% | 960 |
| Hawaii | $58K | +5% | 560 |
| Delaware | $58K | +4% | 350 |
| Maryland | $58K | +4% | 2,030 |
| Nevada | $56K | +2% | 1,340 |
| Pennsylvania | $56K | +1% | 5,630 |
| Wisconsin | $55K | +0% | 2,910 |
| Virginia | $55K | -0% | 2,850 |
| Utah | $55K | -1% | 1,530 |
| Michigan | $55K | -1% | 3,920 |
| New Mexico | $54K | -2% | 890 |
| Wyoming | $54K | -3% | 170 |
| Maine | $53K | -4% | 510 |
| Nebraska | $53K | -5% | 990 |
| Georgia | $52K | -6% | 4,740 |
| North Carolina | $52K | -6% | 3,620 |
| Texas | $52K | -6% | 14,130 |
| Missouri | $52K | -6% | 3,190 |
| Ohio | $51K | -7% | 5,690 |
| South Carolina | $51K | -8% | 1,540 |
| Arizona | $51K | -8% | 3,670 |
| Montana | $50K | -9% | 540 |
| Kentucky | $50K | -9% | 1,700 |
| Tennessee | $50K | -9% | 3,240 |
| Kansas | $50K | -10% | 1,910 |
| Iowa | $50K | -10% | 1,240 |
| Louisiana | $50K | -10% | 2,310 |
| Indiana | $49K | -11% | 4,120 |
| Florida | $48K | -13% | 10,060 |
| South Dakota | $47K | -15% | 410 |
| Arkansas | $46K | -17% | 1,410 |
| Oklahoma | $46K | -17% | 2,840 |
| Alabama | $45K | -18% | 1,510 |
| Mississippi | $44K | -21% | 950 |
| West Virginia | $42K | -24% | 750 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track payroll and timekeeping clerks salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Charleston-North Charleston numbers change.
Related careers in Office & Admin
Frequently asked questions
How much do payroll and timekeeping clerks make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median is $53,060 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,010, and experienced payroll and timekeeping clerks can clear $76,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $53K enough to live in Charleston-North Charleston?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,575/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,787/month, which eats 50% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a payroll and timekeeping clerks salary go in Charleston-North Charleston?
Charleston-North Charleston has a Regional Price Parity of 100.96 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median payroll and timekeeping clerks salary is worth about $52,555 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do payroll and timekeeping clerks get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.