Salaries › Payroll Clerk › District of Columbia
Payroll Clerk Salary in District of Columbia (2026)
$35.90 per hour · take-home ≈ $57,953/year ($4,829/month) for a single filer
District of Columbia is the highest-paying state in the country for Payroll Clerks, with a median about 29% above the national average. Of the 270 Payroll Clerk jobs BLS counts in District of Columbia, the typical worker earns $74,670 a year — though pay ranges from $49,270 for newcomers to $98,760 at the top.
Payroll Clerk pay range in District of Columbia
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $49,270 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $61,840 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $74,670 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $90,270 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $98,760 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 270 Payroll Clerk jobs in District of Columbia (occupation code 43-3051, “Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks”).
Gross vs. take-home in District of Columbia
A median Payroll Clerk salary of $74,670 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus District of Columbia state income tax, a single filer keeps about $57,953 — an effective tax rate of 22.4%.
| Gross (median) | $74,670 |
| Federal income tax | −$7,597 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$5,712 |
| District of Columbia state income tax | −$3,407 |
| Take-home (annual) | $57,953 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $4,829 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free District of Columbia paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Payroll Clerk make in District of Columbia?
- The median Payroll Clerk salary in District of Columbia is $74,670 per year ($35.90 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $61,840 and $90,270.
- What is the take-home pay for a Payroll Clerk in District of Columbia?
- On the median salary of $74,670, a single filer in District of Columbia takes home about $57,953 per year ($4,829 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 22.4%.
- How many Payroll Clerk jobs are there in District of Columbia?
- BLS counts 270 Payroll Clerk jobs in District of Columbia in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Payroll Clerks
Other salaries in District of Columbia
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 District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia.