Salaries › Payroll Clerk › Washington
Payroll Clerk Salary in Washington (2026)
$31.04 per hour · take-home ≈ $54,054/year ($4,504/month) for a single filer
Washington is among the top 5 highest-paying states for Payroll Clerks (3rd of 51), with a median about 12% above the national average. Of the 3,560 Payroll Clerk jobs BLS counts in Washington, the typical worker earns $64,560 a year — though pay ranges from $50,220 for newcomers to $89,290 at the top.
Payroll Clerk pay range in Washington
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $50,220 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $58,310 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $64,560 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $76,390 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $89,290 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 3,560 Payroll Clerk jobs in Washington (occupation code 43-3051, “Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks”).
Gross vs. take-home in Washington
A median Payroll Clerk salary of $64,560 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare (no state income tax in Washington), a single filer keeps about $54,054 — an effective tax rate of 16.3%.
| Gross (median) | $64,560 |
| Federal income tax | −$5,567 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,939 |
| Washington state income tax | −$0 |
| Take-home (annual) | $54,054 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $4,504 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Washington paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Payroll Clerk make in Washington?
- The median Payroll Clerk salary in Washington is $64,560 per year ($31.04 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $58,310 and $76,390.
- What is the take-home pay for a Payroll Clerk in Washington?
- On the median salary of $64,560, a single filer in Washington takes home about $54,054 per year ($4,504 per month) after federal tax, FICA — an effective tax rate of 16.3%.
- How many Payroll Clerk jobs are there in Washington?
- BLS counts 3,560 Payroll Clerk jobs in Washington in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Payroll Clerks
Other salaries in Washington
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 Washington 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 Washington.