Salaries › Payroll Clerk › California
Payroll Clerk Salary in California (2026)
$31.41 per hour · take-home ≈ $52,513/year ($4,376/month) for a single filer
California is among the top 5 highest-paying states for Payroll Clerks (2nd of 51), with a median about 13% above the national average. Of the 20,590 Payroll Clerk jobs BLS counts in California, the typical worker earns $65,340 a year — though pay ranges from $46,120 for newcomers to $92,080 at the top.
Payroll Clerk pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $46,120 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $56,230 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $65,340 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $78,870 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $92,080 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 20,590 Payroll Clerk jobs in California (occupation code 43-3051, “Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Payroll Clerk salary of $65,340 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $52,513 — an effective tax rate of 19.6%.
| Gross (median) | $65,340 |
| Federal income tax | −$5,661 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,999 |
| California state income tax | −$2,168 |
| Take-home (annual) | $52,513 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $4,376 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Payroll Clerk make in California?
- The median Payroll Clerk salary in California is $65,340 per year ($31.41 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $56,230 and $78,870.
- What is the take-home pay for a Payroll Clerk in California?
- On the median salary of $65,340, a single filer in California takes home about $52,513 per year ($4,376 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 19.6%.
- How many Payroll Clerk jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 20,590 Payroll Clerk jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Payroll Clerks
Other salaries in California
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 California 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 California.