Salaries › Payroll Clerk › North Carolina
Payroll Clerk Salary in North Carolina (2026)
$25.75 per hour · take-home ≈ $43,580/year ($3,632/month) for a single filer
North Carolina ranks 36th of 51 states for Payroll Clerk pay, with a median about 7% below the national average. Of the 3,630 Payroll Clerk jobs BLS counts in North Carolina, the typical worker earns $53,550 a year — though pay ranges from $36,620 for newcomers to $74,480 at the top.
Payroll Clerk pay range in North Carolina
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $36,620 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $45,680 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $53,550 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $62,650 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $74,480 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 3,630 Payroll Clerk jobs in North Carolina (occupation code 43-3051, “Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks”).
Gross vs. take-home in North Carolina
A median Payroll Clerk salary of $53,550 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus North Carolina state income tax, a single filer keeps about $43,580 — an effective tax rate of 18.6%.
| Gross (median) | $53,550 |
| Federal income tax | −$4,246 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,097 |
| North Carolina state income tax | −$1,628 |
| Take-home (annual) | $43,580 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,632 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free North Carolina paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Payroll Clerk make in North Carolina?
- The median Payroll Clerk salary in North Carolina is $53,550 per year ($25.75 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $45,680 and $62,650.
- What is the take-home pay for a Payroll Clerk in North Carolina?
- On the median salary of $53,550, a single filer in North Carolina takes home about $43,580 per year ($3,632 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 18.6%.
- How many Payroll Clerk jobs are there in North Carolina?
- BLS counts 3,630 Payroll Clerk jobs in North Carolina in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Payroll Clerks
Other salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina.