Salaries › Payroll Clerk › Pennsylvania
Payroll Clerk Salary in Pennsylvania (2026)
$26.78 per hour · take-home ≈ $45,217/year ($3,768/month) for a single filer
Pennsylvania ranks 28th of 51 states for Payroll Clerk pay, with a median about 3% below the national average. Of the 5,170 Payroll Clerk jobs BLS counts in Pennsylvania, the typical worker earns $55,690 a year — though pay ranges from $39,630 for newcomers to $76,980 at the top.
Payroll Clerk pay range in Pennsylvania
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $39,630 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $46,540 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $55,690 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $64,590 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $76,980 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 5,170 Payroll Clerk jobs in Pennsylvania (occupation code 43-3051, “Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks”).
Gross vs. take-home in Pennsylvania
A median Payroll Clerk salary of $55,690 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Pennsylvania state income tax, a single filer keeps about $45,217 — an effective tax rate of 18.8%.
| Gross (median) | $55,690 |
| Federal income tax | −$4,503 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,260 |
| Pennsylvania state income tax | −$1,710 |
| Take-home (annual) | $45,217 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,768 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Pennsylvania paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Payroll Clerk make in Pennsylvania?
- The median Payroll Clerk salary in Pennsylvania is $55,690 per year ($26.78 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $46,540 and $64,590.
- What is the take-home pay for a Payroll Clerk in Pennsylvania?
- On the median salary of $55,690, a single filer in Pennsylvania takes home about $45,217 per year ($3,768 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 18.8%.
- How many Payroll Clerk jobs are there in Pennsylvania?
- BLS counts 5,170 Payroll Clerk jobs in Pennsylvania in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Payroll Clerks
Other salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania.