Payroll processor vs accounts receivable clerk

The differences between payroll processors and accounts receivable 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 processor, becoming an accounts receivable clerk takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a payroll processor has an average salary of $44,307, which is higher than the $36,425 average annual salary of an accounts receivable clerk.

The top three skills for a payroll processor include customer service, data entry and ADP. The most important skills for an accounts receivable clerk are customer service, data entry, and collection calls.

Payroll processor vs accounts receivable clerk overview

	Payroll Processor	Accounts Receivable Clerk
Yearly salary	$44,307	$36,425
Hourly rate	$21.30	$17.51
Growth rate	-3%	-5%
Number of jobs	11,795	87,935
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 44%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Average age	48	51
Years of experience	4	6

What does a payroll processor do?

A payroll processor is an individual who processes the payroll of employees for an organization by validating work hours and attendance of employees. Payroll processors must research for discrepancies in payroll information and documentation before processing them, as well as calculate payroll deductions. They assist payroll processing clerks and other team members with all the processes that are related to payroll. The payroll processor must also edit payroll worksheets for the data entry department as well as audit bonus payments for reporting.

What does an accounts receivable clerk do?

An Accounts Receivable Clerk specializes in processing payment records and bill statements of a company or organization. Among the duties include calculating total revenues and unpaid invoices, maintaining financial records and keeping a detailed and organized database, and verifying financial transactions and payment delinquencies. Furthermore, an Accounts Receivable Clerk must resolve and examine deductions, prepare invoices and necessary documentation, and review customer payment plans and history records and coordinate with the collections department should there be any issues.

Payroll processor vs accounts receivable clerk salary

Payroll processors and accounts receivable clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Payroll Processor	Accounts Receivable Clerk
Average salary	$44,307	$36,425
Salary range	Between $33,000 And $58,000	Between $29,000 And $45,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	Boston, MA
Highest paying state	New Jersey	Massachusetts
Best paying company	Venable	IBM
Best paying industry	Finance	Finance

Differences between payroll processor and accounts receivable clerk education

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

	Payroll Processor	Accounts Receivable Clerk
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 44%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Most common major	Business	Accounting
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Payroll processor vs accounts receivable clerk demographics

Here are the differences between payroll processors' and accounts receivable clerks' demographics:

	Payroll Processor	Accounts Receivable Clerk
Average age	48	51
Gender ratio	Male, 16.1% Female, 83.9%	Male, 13.7% Female, 86.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 6.0% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%	Black or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 6.5% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	10%	7%

Differences between payroll processor and accounts receivable clerk duties and responsibilities

Payroll processor example responsibilities.

Manage PTO and cafeteria benefits program.
Assist KRONOS editors as need in the KRONOS timekeeping system.
Input, verify and correct time records using the KRONOS and Lawson software.
Test new software upgrades to payroll HRIS system before implementing to payroll team.
Process, balance and facilitate the transmission of incoming and outgoing ACH files.
Input hours into PeopleSoft and balance batches for assign pay groups according to establish schedule.

Accounts receivable clerk example responsibilities.

Manage and monitor weekly bank deposit runs and record deposits into QuickBooks.
Manage profitable accounts receivable ledgers for existing and new clientele maintaining accuracy of monies enter to appropriate relate account.
Obtain online reports of bank transactions, including deposits, ACH, EFT and wire payments from multiple banking institutions.
Utilize QuickBooks accounting software for billing/invoices, generate statements.
Perform necessary adjustments using knowledge of Medicare and all third party insurance.
Investigate and resolve any out-of-balances including credit card discrepancies / lockbox exceptions.

Payroll processor vs accounts receivable clerk skills

Common payroll processor skills

Customer Service, 12%
Data Entry, 9%
ADP, 5%
Payroll System, 5%
Kronos, 5%
Human Resources, 4%

Common accounts receivable clerk skills

Customer Service, 12%
Data Entry, 9%
Collection Calls, 8%
Financial Data, 7%
Credit Card Payments, 5%
Process Payments, 5%

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Payroll Processor vs Accounts Receivable Clerk

Updated January 8, 2025

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