Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Salary
The median pay for a payroll and timekeeping clerks in South Carolina is $52,240/year ($25.12/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $56,070 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,263/month, about 36.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $52K get you in South Carolina?
About payroll and timekeeping clerks
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Payroll and timekeeping clerks pay in South Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $52K locally vs. $58K nationwide, a 10% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,263/month, which is 35.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Carolina
Entry-level payroll and timekeeping clerks (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary by metro in South Carolina
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spartanburg | $54K | +4% | 110 |
| Charleston-North Charleston | $54K | +3% | 280 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $54K | +3% | 280 |
| Columbia | $52K | +0% | 220 |
| Florence | $52K | -1% | 60 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $50K | -4% | 60 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal | $49K | -7% | 40 |
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Track payroll and timekeeping clerks salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a payroll and timekeeping clerk afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 35.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/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 South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new payroll and timekeeping clerks typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,291/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 55% 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 South Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $52K locally vs. $58K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for payroll and timekeeping clerks?
South Carolina pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $56K — below the national median.
How much do payroll and timekeeping clerks make in South Carolina?
The median is $52,240 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,180, and experienced payroll and timekeeping clerks can clear $77,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,525/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 35.8% 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 South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (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 $56,070 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.