Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Salary
The median pay for a payroll and timekeeping clerks in Rhode Island is $59,370/year ($28.54/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $82K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.77), that's roughly $58,337 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,544/month, about 39.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Rhode Island. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $59K get you in Rhode Island?
About payroll and timekeeping clerks
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What this looks like in Rhode Island
Payroll and timekeeping clerks pay in Rhode Island tracks closely to the national median, $59K locally vs. $58K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,544/month, which is 38.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 101.77) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Rhode Island
Entry-level payroll and timekeeping clerks (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $82K or more, a $44K spread from bottom to top.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary by metro in Rhode Island
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick | $60K | +1% | 620 |
Compare to other states
Track payroll and timekeeping clerks salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Rhode Island numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a payroll and timekeeping clerk afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rhode Island?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 38.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,544/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Rhode Island?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new payroll and timekeeping clerks typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,285/month. At HUD’s $1,544/month FMR, rent would take 68% 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 Rhode Island?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $59K locally vs. $58K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Rhode Island compare to the national average for payroll and timekeeping clerks?
Rhode Island pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.77), the purchasing-power equivalent is $58K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do payroll and timekeeping clerks make in Rhode Island?
The median is $59,370 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,080, and experienced payroll and timekeeping clerks can clear $82,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Rhode Island?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,991/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,544/month, which eats 38.7% 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 Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has a Regional Price Parity of 101.77 (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 $58,337 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.