Salaries › Payroll Clerk › Tennessee
Payroll Clerk Salary in Tennessee (2026)
$24.89 per hour · take-home ≈ $43,785/year ($3,649/month) for a single filer
Tennessee ranks 43rd of 51 states for Payroll Clerk pay, with a median about 10% below the national average. Of the 3,680 Payroll Clerk jobs BLS counts in Tennessee, the typical worker earns $51,780 a year — though pay ranges from $36,270 for newcomers to $75,160 at the top.
Payroll Clerk pay range in Tennessee
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $36,270 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $45,300 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $51,780 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $61,350 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $75,160 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 3,680 Payroll Clerk jobs in Tennessee (occupation code 43-3051, “Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks”).
Gross vs. take-home in Tennessee
A median Payroll Clerk salary of $51,780 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare (no state income tax in Tennessee), a single filer keeps about $43,785 — an effective tax rate of 15.4%.
| Gross (median) | $51,780 |
| Federal income tax | −$4,034 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,961 |
| Tennessee state income tax | −$0 |
| Take-home (annual) | $43,785 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,649 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Tennessee paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Payroll Clerk make in Tennessee?
- The median Payroll Clerk salary in Tennessee is $51,780 per year ($24.89 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $45,300 and $61,350.
- What is the take-home pay for a Payroll Clerk in Tennessee?
- On the median salary of $51,780, a single filer in Tennessee takes home about $43,785 per year ($3,649 per month) after federal tax, FICA — an effective tax rate of 15.4%.
- How many Payroll Clerk jobs are there in Tennessee?
- BLS counts 3,680 Payroll Clerk jobs in Tennessee in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Payroll Clerks
Other salaries in Tennessee
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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee.