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The differences between payroll processors 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 processor and a timekeeper. Additionally, a timekeeper has an average salary of $46,290, which is higher than the $44,307 average annual salary of a payroll processor.
The top three skills for a payroll processor include customer service, data entry and ADP. The most important skills for a timekeeper are timekeeping, data entry, and human resources.
| Payroll Processor | Timekeeper | |
| Yearly salary | $44,307 | $46,290 |
| Hourly rate | $21.30 | $22.25 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 11,795 | 754 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
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 processors and timekeepers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Payroll Processor | Timekeeper | |
| Average salary | $44,307 | $46,290 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $58,000 | Between $30,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | - |
| Best paying company | Venable | - |
| Best paying industry | Finance | - |
There are a few differences between a payroll processor and a timekeeper in terms of educational background:
| Payroll Processor | Timekeeper | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between payroll processors' and timekeepers' demographics:
| Payroll Processor | Timekeeper | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 16.1% Female, 83.9% | Male, 17.2% Female, 82.8% |
| 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, 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% |