Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK
The median pay for a payroll and timekeeping clerks in Fort Smith, AR-OK is $42,370/year ($20.37/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 85.89), which stretches that salary to about $49,331 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $937/month — about 32.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $42K get you in Fort Smith?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Fort Smith’s Regional Price Parity (85.89). 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
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Fort Smith, AR-OK
Entry-level payroll and timekeeping clerks (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $44K 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 Fort Smith numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do payroll and timekeeping clerks make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The median is $42,370 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,690, and experienced payroll and timekeeping clerks can clear $72,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in Fort Smith?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,883/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $937/month, which eats 32.5% 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 Fort Smith?
Fort Smith has a Regional Price Parity of 85.89 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median payroll and timekeeping clerks salary is worth about $49,331 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.