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Payroll administrator vs timekeeper

The differences between payroll administrators and timekeepers 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 timekeeper. Additionally, a payroll administrator has an average salary of $46,596, which is higher than the $46,290 average annual salary of a timekeeper.

The top three skills for a payroll administrator include customer service, data entry and payroll system. The most important skills for a timekeeper are timekeeping, data entry, and human resources.

Payroll administrator vs timekeeper overview

Payroll AdministratorTimekeeper
Yearly salary$46,596$46,290
Hourly rate$22.40$22.25
Growth rate-3%-3%
Number of jobs55,490754
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 32%
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 timekeeper do?

A Timekeeper works in various industries and organizations and is typically hired as the acting liaison between payroll coordinators and employees. This is to make sure the pay distribution process runs smoothly. As a timekeeper, you will be required to maintain an accurate track of the total number of hours worked for payroll purposes. This involves compiling payroll data from timesheets, computing wages, including the removal of taxes and social security withholding, and putting it into the computer system.

Payroll administrator vs timekeeper salary

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

Payroll AdministratorTimekeeper
Average salary$46,596$46,290
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $64,000Between $30,000 And $69,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DC-
Highest paying stateMaine-
Best paying companyNorthern Trust-
Best paying industryConstruction-

Differences between payroll administrator and timekeeper education

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

Payroll AdministratorTimekeeper
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Payroll administrator vs timekeeper demographics

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

Payroll AdministratorTimekeeper
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 16.0% Female, 84.0%Male, 17.2% Female, 82.8%
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, 11.1% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 6.0% White, 57.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between payroll administrator and timekeeper 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

Timekeeper example responsibilities.

  • Perform data entry, produce and analyze reports while utilizing standard payroll and timekeeping systems.
  • Input time for employees into CCM.
  • Verify and print pay stubs through JDE.
  • Coordinate FMLA, disabilities and leave of absences.
  • Time keeping and entering PTO to submit on weekly basis
  • Train new CCM vendors when onboarding on allocations, balancing and the exception process.
    • Show more

Payroll administrator vs timekeeper skills

Common payroll administrator skills
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Data Entry, 7%
  • Payroll System, 6%
  • Human Resources, 5%
  • Payroll Data, 4%
  • Process Payroll, 4%
Common timekeeper skills
  • Timekeeping, 21%
  • Data Entry, 14%
  • Human Resources, 8%
  • Per Diem, 7%
  • Kronos, 7%
  • Turnaround, 5%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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