Payroll clerk vs operations clerk

The differences between payroll clerks and operations 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 an operations clerk takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a payroll clerk has an average salary of $41,602, which is higher than the $33,746 average annual salary of an operations clerk.

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

Payroll clerk vs operations clerk overview

	Payroll Clerk	Operations Clerk
Yearly salary	$41,602	$33,746
Hourly rate	$20.00	$16.22
Growth rate	-3%	-5%
Number of jobs	71,944	158,449
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 34%	Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Average age	48	47
Years of experience	4	2

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.

What does an operations clerk do?

An operations clerk is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties, ensuring smooth business operations. Operations clerks often handle customer service, respond to customers' inquiries and concerns, and direct guests to appropriate departments. They also manage data entry tasks, update customers or employees' information to the database, create business reports, identify potential clients through cold calls and e-mails, sort and file documents, and monitor inventories. An operations clerk must have excellent time-management and organizational skills to follow office procedures and meet deadlines.

Payroll clerk vs operations clerk salary

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

	Payroll Clerk	Operations Clerk
Average salary	$41,602	$33,746
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $55,000	Between $27,000 And $41,000
Highest paying City	Boston, MA	Boston, MA
Highest paying state	Connecticut	Massachusetts
Best paying company	MDU Resources	Ncar - The National Center For Atmospheric Research
Best paying industry	Government	Manufacturing

Differences between payroll clerk and operations clerk education

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

	Payroll Clerk	Operations Clerk
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 34%	Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	Western Carolina University

Payroll clerk vs operations clerk demographics

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

	Payroll Clerk	Operations Clerk
Average age	48	47
Gender ratio	Male, 12.4% Female, 87.6%	Male, 31.7% Female, 68.3%
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, 10.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 9.2% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage	10%	6%

Differences between payroll clerk and operations clerk duties and responsibilities

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.

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Operations clerk example responsibilities.

Demonstrate strong math skills in managing inmate s accounts and calmly and effectively deescalating outbursts of belligerent inmates.
Input global notes in CRT.
Retrieve documents to be send to the IRS.
Encode checks with 10 key hardware TRP or NCR machines.
Register patients in the HMS system.
Research case law using Internet and Westlaw software.

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Payroll clerk vs operations clerk skills

Common payroll clerk skills

Data Entry, 19%
Payroll System, 10%
Photocopying, 7%
Excellent Organizational, 6%
Customer Service, 6%
ADP, 5%

Common operations clerk skills

Customer Service, 25%
Data Entry Functions, 8%
Computer System, 7%
Payroll, 6%
Office Equipment, 4%
Provide Clerical Support, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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