Payroll clerk vs payroll & human resources assistant

The differences between payroll clerks and payroll & human resources assistants 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 clerk and a payroll & human resources assistant. Additionally, a payroll & human resources assistant has an average salary of $41,680, which is higher than the $41,602 average annual salary of a payroll clerk.

The top three skills for a payroll clerk include data entry, payroll system and photocopying. The most important skills for a payroll & human resources assistant are data entry, assist human resources, and background checks.

Payroll clerk vs payroll & human resources assistant overview

	Payroll Clerk	Payroll & Human Resources Assistant
Yearly salary	$41,602	$41,680
Hourly rate	$20.00	$20.04
Growth rate	-3%	-3%
Number of jobs	71,944	45,318
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 34%	Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age	48	48
Years of experience	4	4

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 a payroll & human resources assistant do?

The main duty of a Payroll & Human Resources Assistant is to provide payroll information through collecting time and attendance records. They also answer questions regarding examinations, eligibility, salaries, benefits, and other important information.

Payroll clerk vs payroll & human resources assistant salary

Payroll clerks and payroll & human resources assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Payroll Clerk	Payroll & Human Resources Assistant
Average salary	$41,602	$41,680
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $55,000	Between $29,000 And $59,000
Highest paying City	Boston, MA	New York, NY
Highest paying state	Connecticut	New York
Best paying company	MDU Resources	Compunetix
Best paying industry	Government	Manufacturing

Differences between payroll clerk and payroll & human resources assistant education

There are a few differences between a payroll clerk and a payroll & human resources assistant in terms of educational background:

	Payroll Clerk	Payroll & Human Resources Assistant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 34%	Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Payroll clerk vs payroll & human resources assistant demographics

Here are the differences between payroll clerks' and payroll & human resources assistants' demographics:

	Payroll Clerk	Payroll & Human Resources Assistant
Average age	48	48
Gender ratio	Male, 12.4% Female, 87.6%	Male, 10.3% Female, 89.7%
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, 8.8% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 6.2% White, 58.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage	10%	10%

Differences between payroll clerk and payroll & human resources assistant 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.

Payroll & human resources assistant example responsibilities.

Manage and track PTO eligibility.
Manage new employee orientation training, including e-verify.
Update HRIS system with election updates, notify carriers of changes and perform reconciliation of payroll deductions with vendor invoices.
Streamline and update payroll processes and procedures in addition to implementing new time and attendance systems, HRIS and record keeping.
Work on Microsoft outlook, word, excel, KRONOS timekeeper and other programs on AS400.
Maintain attendance tracking system by recording employee tardy/absentee information, vacation hours earn and used, and FMLA time used.

Payroll clerk vs payroll & human resources assistant skills

Common payroll clerk skills

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

Common payroll & human resources assistant skills

Data Entry, 6%
Assist Human Resources, 6%
Background Checks, 6%
ADP Payroll, 5%
Payroll Processing, 5%
Payroll System, 5%

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Payroll Clerk vs Payroll & Human Resources Assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

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