Salaries › Payroll Clerk › Iowa
Payroll Clerk Salary in Iowa (2026)
$26.00 per hour · take-home ≈ $43,578/year ($3,632/month) for a single filer
Iowa ranks 33rd of 51 states for Payroll Clerk pay, with a median about 6% below the national average. Of the 1,230 Payroll Clerk jobs BLS counts in Iowa, the typical worker earns $54,080 a year — though pay ranges from $39,410 for newcomers to $70,990 at the top.
Payroll Clerk pay range in Iowa
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $39,410 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $46,070 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $54,080 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $61,420 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $70,990 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 1,230 Payroll Clerk jobs in Iowa (occupation code 43-3051, “Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks”).
Gross vs. take-home in Iowa
A median Payroll Clerk salary of $54,080 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Iowa state income tax, a single filer keeps about $43,578 — an effective tax rate of 19.4%.
| Gross (median) | $54,080 |
| Federal income tax | −$4,310 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,137 |
| Iowa state income tax | −$2,055 |
| Take-home (annual) | $43,578 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,632 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Iowa paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Payroll Clerk make in Iowa?
- The median Payroll Clerk salary in Iowa is $54,080 per year ($26.00 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $46,070 and $61,420.
- What is the take-home pay for a Payroll Clerk in Iowa?
- On the median salary of $54,080, a single filer in Iowa takes home about $43,578 per year ($3,632 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 19.4%.
- How many Payroll Clerk jobs are there in Iowa?
- BLS counts 1,230 Payroll Clerk jobs in Iowa in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Payroll Clerks
Other salaries in Iowa
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 Iowa 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 Iowa.