Salaries › Payroll Clerk › Illinois
Payroll Clerk Salary in Illinois (2026)
$29.51 per hour · take-home ≈ $48,468/year ($4,039/month) for a single filer
Illinois ranks 10th of 51 states for Payroll Clerk pay, with a median about 6% above the national average. Of the 5,580 Payroll Clerk jobs BLS counts in Illinois, the typical worker earns $61,390 a year — though pay ranges from $39,670 for newcomers to $86,460 at the top.
Payroll Clerk pay range in Illinois
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $39,670 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $48,560 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $61,390 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $74,820 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $86,460 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 5,580 Payroll Clerk jobs in Illinois (occupation code 43-3051, “Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks”).
Gross vs. take-home in Illinois
A median Payroll Clerk salary of $61,390 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Illinois state income tax, a single filer keeps about $48,468 — an effective tax rate of 21.0%.
| Gross (median) | $61,390 |
| Federal income tax | −$5,187 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,696 |
| Illinois state income tax | −$3,039 |
| Take-home (annual) | $48,468 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $4,039 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Illinois paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Payroll Clerk make in Illinois?
- The median Payroll Clerk salary in Illinois is $61,390 per year ($29.51 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $48,560 and $74,820.
- What is the take-home pay for a Payroll Clerk in Illinois?
- On the median salary of $61,390, a single filer in Illinois takes home about $48,468 per year ($4,039 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 21.0%.
- How many Payroll Clerk jobs are there in Illinois?
- BLS counts 5,580 Payroll Clerk jobs in Illinois in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Payroll Clerks
Other salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois 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 Illinois.