Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Salary
The median pay for a payroll and timekeeping clerks in Tennessee is $51,780/year ($24.89/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $57,674 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 33.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $52K get you in Tennessee?
About payroll and timekeeping clerks
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for payroll and timekeeping clerks in Tennessee runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $58K. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Tennessee
Entry-level payroll and timekeeping clerks (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary by metro in Tennessee
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $56K | +8% | 1,460 |
| Memphis | $53K | +3% | 520 |
| Knoxville | $53K | +2% | 500 |
| Clarksville | $52K | +1% | 100 |
| Chattanooga | $52K | +0% | 190 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $51K | -1% | 90 |
| Cleveland | $48K | -7% | 40 |
| Jackson | $48K | -8% | 60 |
| Johnson City | $46K | -11% | 90 |
| Morristown | $45K | -13% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track payroll and timekeeping clerks salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a payroll and timekeeping clerk afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 33.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/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 Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new payroll and timekeeping clerks typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,176/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 Tennessee?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $52K here vs. $58K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for payroll and timekeeping clerks?
Tennessee pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $58K — below the national median.
How much do payroll and timekeeping clerks make in Tennessee?
The median is $51,780 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,270, and experienced payroll and timekeeping clerks can clear $75,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,637/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 33.4% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $57,674 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.