Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between payroll assistants 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 assistant and a timekeeper. Additionally, a timekeeper has an average salary of $46,290, which is higher than the $45,023 average annual salary of a payroll assistant.
The top three skills for a payroll assistant include data entry, payroll system and payroll data. The most important skills for a timekeeper are timekeeping, data entry, and human resources.
| Payroll Assistant | Timekeeper | |
| Yearly salary | $45,023 | $46,290 |
| Hourly rate | $21.65 | $22.25 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 7,063 | 754 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A payroll assistant is primarily in charge of performing support tasks to help payroll managers maintain smooth workflow operations. Their duties entail maintaining databases, entering relevant data into systems, coordinating with different departments, handling tax forms and other paperwork, establishing schedules, processing deductions, and preparing regular reports. They may also manage calls and other forms of correspondence, perform research and assessments, keep records, and run errands as necessary. Additionally, a payroll assistant must maintain an open communication line with fellow staff and managers to solve potential or existing issues.
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 assistants and timekeepers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Payroll Assistant | Timekeeper | |
| Average salary | $45,023 | $46,290 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $65,000 | Between $30,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | Riverhead, NY | - |
| Highest paying state | New York | - |
| Best paying company | Sidley Austin | - |
| Best paying industry | Construction | - |
There are a few differences between a payroll assistant and a timekeeper in terms of educational background:
| Payroll Assistant | Timekeeper | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between payroll assistants' and timekeepers' demographics:
| Payroll Assistant | Timekeeper | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 16.0% Female, 84.0% | Male, 17.2% Female, 82.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 6.1% White, 58.0% 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 Percentage | 10% | 10% |