Salaries › Payroll Clerk › Colorado
Payroll Clerk Salary in Colorado (2026)
$30.84 per hour · take-home ≈ $51,603/year ($4,300/month) for a single filer
Colorado is among the top 5 highest-paying states for Payroll Clerks (4th of 51), with a median about 11% above the national average. Of the 2,580 Payroll Clerk jobs BLS counts in Colorado, the typical worker earns $64,140 a year — though pay ranges from $46,590 for newcomers to $88,050 at the top.
Payroll Clerk pay range in Colorado
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $46,590 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $51,650 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $64,140 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $76,040 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $88,050 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 2,580 Payroll Clerk jobs in Colorado (occupation code 43-3051, “Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks”).
Gross vs. take-home in Colorado
A median Payroll Clerk salary of $64,140 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Colorado state income tax, a single filer keeps about $51,603 — an effective tax rate of 19.5%.
| Gross (median) | $64,140 |
| Federal income tax | −$5,517 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,907 |
| Colorado state income tax | −$2,114 |
| Take-home (annual) | $51,603 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $4,300 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Colorado paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Payroll Clerk make in Colorado?
- The median Payroll Clerk salary in Colorado is $64,140 per year ($30.84 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $51,650 and $76,040.
- What is the take-home pay for a Payroll Clerk in Colorado?
- On the median salary of $64,140, a single filer in Colorado takes home about $51,603 per year ($4,300 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 Colorado?
- BLS counts 2,580 Payroll Clerk jobs in Colorado in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Payroll Clerks
Other salaries in Colorado
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 Colorado 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 Colorado.