Salaries › Payroll Clerk › Wisconsin
Payroll Clerk Salary in Wisconsin (2026)
$28.52 per hour · take-home ≈ $47,976/year ($3,998/month) for a single filer
Wisconsin ranks 19th of 51 states for Payroll Clerk pay, with a median about 3% above the national average. Of the 2,590 Payroll Clerk jobs BLS counts in Wisconsin, the typical worker earns $59,310 a year — though pay ranges from $42,730 for newcomers to $76,830 at the top.
Payroll Clerk pay range in Wisconsin
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $42,730 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $50,850 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $59,310 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $66,980 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $76,830 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 2,590 Payroll Clerk jobs in Wisconsin (occupation code 43-3051, “Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks”).
Gross vs. take-home in Wisconsin
A median Payroll Clerk salary of $59,310 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Wisconsin state income tax, a single filer keeps about $47,976 — an effective tax rate of 19.1%.
| Gross (median) | $59,310 |
| Federal income tax | −$4,937 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,537 |
| Wisconsin state income tax | −$1,859 |
| Take-home (annual) | $47,976 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,998 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Wisconsin paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Payroll Clerk make in Wisconsin?
- The median Payroll Clerk salary in Wisconsin is $59,310 per year ($28.52 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $50,850 and $66,980.
- What is the take-home pay for a Payroll Clerk in Wisconsin?
- On the median salary of $59,310, a single filer in Wisconsin takes home about $47,976 per year ($3,998 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 19.1%.
- How many Payroll Clerk jobs are there in Wisconsin?
- BLS counts 2,590 Payroll Clerk jobs in Wisconsin in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Payroll Clerks
Other salaries in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin.