Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Salary
The median pay for a payroll and timekeeping clerks in Missouri is $54,080/year ($26/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $60,785 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,097/month, about 30.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $54K get you in Missouri?
About payroll and timekeeping clerks
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What this looks like in Missouri
Payroll and timekeeping clerks pay in Missouri tracks closely to the national median, $54K locally vs. $58K nationwide, a 7% difference. Rent runs $1,097/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (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, Missouri
Entry-level payroll and timekeeping clerks (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $42K spread from bottom to top.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary by metro in Missouri
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $59K | +9% | 1,530 |
| St. Joseph | $57K | +5% | 50 |
| Kansas City | $57K | +5% | 1,260 |
| Jefferson City | $50K | -7% | 70 |
| Joplin | $49K | -10% | 100 |
| Springfield | $48K | -11% | 280 |
| Columbia | $48K | -12% | 100 |
| Cape Girardeau | $44K | -19% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track payroll and timekeeping clerks salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a payroll and timekeeping clerk afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 30.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new payroll and timekeeping clerks typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,222/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 49% 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 Missouri?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $54K locally vs. $58K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for payroll and timekeeping clerks?
Missouri pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do payroll and timekeeping clerks make in Missouri?
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 $37,030, and experienced payroll and timekeeping clerks can clear $79,470. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,642/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 30.1% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $60,785 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.