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The differences between payroll clerks and clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a payroll clerk, becoming a clerk takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a payroll clerk has an average salary of $41,602, which is higher than the $31,163 average annual salary of a clerk.
The top three skills for a payroll clerk include data entry, payroll system and photocopying. The most important skills for a clerk are basic math, math, and data entry.
| Payroll Clerk | Clerk | |
| Yearly salary | $41,602 | $31,163 |
| Hourly rate | $20.00 | $14.98 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 71,944 | 80,311 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 33% |
| Average age | 48 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
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.
Clerks are responsible for many of the general administrative tasks in the office. They are in charge of manning office telephone lines, managing incoming and outgoing mails, filing paperwork and other needed records, scheduling and documenting meetings, typing out documents when needed, disseminating memos and other official announcements, and keeping an inventory of office equipment and supplies. Clerks should have good office skills, communication skills, business writing skills, and time management skills. They should also be able to treat any document or paperwork they handle with confidentiality.
Payroll clerks and clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Payroll Clerk | Clerk | |
| Average salary | $41,602 | $31,163 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $55,000 | Between $24,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | MDU Resources | University of Massachusetts Boston |
| Best paying industry | Government | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a payroll clerk and a clerk in terms of educational background:
| Payroll Clerk | Clerk | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 33% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between payroll clerks' and clerks' demographics:
| Payroll Clerk | Clerk | |
| Average age | 48 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 12.4% Female, 87.6% | Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 21.1% Asian, 7.7% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 6% |