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Payroll administrator vs payroll clerk

The differences between payroll administrators and payroll clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a payroll administrator and a payroll clerk. Additionally, a payroll administrator has an average salary of $46,596, which is higher than the $41,602 average annual salary of a payroll clerk.

The top three skills for a payroll administrator include customer service, data entry and payroll system. The most important skills for a payroll clerk are data entry, payroll system, and photocopying.

Payroll administrator vs payroll clerk overview

Payroll AdministratorPayroll Clerk
Yearly salary$46,596$41,602
Hourly rate$22.40$20.00
Growth rate-3%-3%
Number of jobs55,49071,944
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Average age4848
Years of experience44

What does a payroll administrator do?

A payroll administrator is responsible for processing the wages of employees in a company or organization. Aside from issuing payments, it is also the payroll administrator's task to audit, process taxes and other deductions, keep and maintain an organized record of data, respond to inquiries and resolve issues, and tally employee work hours. Furthermore, a payroll administrator needs to have efficient attention to detail as most of the tasks require accuracy and speed. It is also essential to communicate and coordinate with team members at all times.

What does a payroll clerk do?

A payroll clerk is responsible for managing the payroll process by collecting the necessary information needed to release payments. Payroll clerks' duties include verifying timesheets, calculating necessary deductions, issuing paychecks timely, managing payment discrepancies and disputes, updating employee's payment information in the database, and creating payroll reports. A payroll clerk must have strong analytical and organization skills, as well as a clear understanding of the organization's payroll policies, ensuring that the process follows regulatory procedures.

Payroll administrator vs payroll clerk salary

Payroll administrators and payroll clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.

Payroll AdministratorPayroll Clerk
Average salary$46,596$41,602
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $64,000Between $31,000 And $55,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCBoston, MA
Highest paying stateMaineConnecticut
Best paying companyNorthern TrustMDU Resources
Best paying industryConstructionGovernment

Differences between payroll administrator and payroll clerk education

There are a few differences between a payroll administrator and a payroll clerk in terms of educational background:

Payroll AdministratorPayroll Clerk
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Payroll administrator vs payroll clerk demographics

Here are the differences between payroll administrators' and payroll clerks' demographics:

Payroll AdministratorPayroll Clerk
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 16.0% Female, 84.0%Male, 12.4% Female, 87.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.1% Asian, 6.2% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 6.0% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between payroll administrator and payroll clerk duties and responsibilities

Payroll administrator example responsibilities.

  • Manage year-end W2 audit/corrections and distribution.
  • Manage employee direct deposit accounts and initiate ACH reversals when necessary.
  • Manage all requisitions using PeopleSoft for the administrator and all assign departments.
  • Maintain KRONOS timekeeping system, review, sort and distribute employee upload file and multiple misc.
  • Maintain and monitor PTO balances and provide executive reports relate to vacation accruals.
  • Assist in implementing and training of MyTime and Lawson systems.
    • Show more

Payroll clerk example responsibilities.

  • Manage all worker compensation and cobra benefit issues and filings.
  • Manage employee drug and background screenings, train new hires and verify I9 information.
  • Process payroll; assist in establishing new time and attendance (KRONOS) computer system; balance insurance billings.
  • View, key, post and monitor time and labor, absences and leave balances in PeopleSoft HRIS system.
  • Compile data and enter information into ADP payroll processing system.
  • Process payroll and transmit electronically to outside computer service for preparation of payroll checks and reports.
    • Show more

Payroll administrator vs payroll clerk skills

Common payroll administrator skills
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Data Entry, 7%
  • Payroll System, 6%
  • Human Resources, 5%
  • Payroll Data, 4%
  • Process Payroll, 4%
Common payroll clerk skills
  • Data Entry, 19%
  • Payroll System, 10%
  • Photocopying, 7%
  • Excellent Organizational, 6%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • ADP, 5%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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