Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Salary
The median pay for a payroll and timekeeping clerks in Iowa is $54,080/year ($26/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $71K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $60,860 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 29.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $54K get you in Iowa?
About payroll and timekeeping clerks
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What this looks like in Iowa
Payroll and timekeeping clerks pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $54K locally vs. $58K nationwide, a 7% difference. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level payroll and timekeeping clerks (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $71K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $59K | +8% | 300 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $57K | +6% | 40 |
| Ames | $57K | +5% | 30 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $57K | +5% | 160 |
| Iowa City | $56K | +4% | 40 |
| Sioux City | $56K | +3% | 50 |
| Cedar Rapids | $53K | -2% | 110 |
| Dubuque | $44K | -18% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track payroll and timekeeping clerks salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a payroll and timekeeping clerk afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 29.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new payroll and timekeeping clerks typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,365/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 45% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is payroll and timekeeping clerk a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $54K locally vs. $58K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for payroll and timekeeping clerks?
Iowa pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do payroll and timekeeping clerks make in Iowa?
The median is $54,080 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,410, and experienced payroll and timekeeping clerks can clear $70,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,570/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 29.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a payroll and timekeeping clerks salary go in Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $60,860 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.