Salaries › Payroll Clerk › Alabama
Payroll Clerk Salary in Alabama (2026)
$22.20 per hour · take-home ≈ $37,159/year ($3,097/month) for a single filer
Alabama ranks 49th of 51 states for Payroll Clerk pay, with a median about 20% below the national average. Of the 1,360 Payroll Clerk jobs BLS counts in Alabama, the typical worker earns $46,170 a year — though pay ranges from $32,210 for newcomers to $64,170 at the top.
Payroll Clerk pay range in Alabama
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $32,210 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $37,520 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $46,170 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $55,030 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $64,170 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 1,360 Payroll Clerk jobs in Alabama (occupation code 43-3051, “Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks”).
Gross vs. take-home in Alabama
A median Payroll Clerk salary of $46,170 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Alabama state income tax, a single filer keeps about $37,159 — an effective tax rate of 19.5%.
| Gross (median) | $46,170 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,360 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,532 |
| Alabama state income tax | −$2,119 |
| Take-home (annual) | $37,159 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,097 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Alabama paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Payroll Clerk make in Alabama?
- The median Payroll Clerk salary in Alabama is $46,170 per year ($22.20 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $37,520 and $55,030.
- What is the take-home pay for a Payroll Clerk in Alabama?
- On the median salary of $46,170, a single filer in Alabama takes home about $37,159 per year ($3,097 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 19.5%.
- How many Payroll Clerk jobs are there in Alabama?
- BLS counts 1,360 Payroll Clerk jobs in Alabama in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Payroll Clerks
Other salaries in Alabama
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Alabama state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Alabama.