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The differences between timekeepers and payroll clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a timekeeper and a payroll clerk. Additionally, a timekeeper has an average salary of $46,290, which is higher than the $41,602 average annual salary of a payroll clerk.
The top three skills for a timekeeper include timekeeping, data entry and human resources. The most important skills for a payroll clerk are data entry, payroll system, and photocopying.
| Timekeeper | Payroll Clerk | |
| Yearly salary | $46,290 | $41,602 |
| Hourly rate | $22.25 | $20.00 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 754 | 71,944 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 32% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
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.
Timekeepers and payroll clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Timekeeper | Payroll Clerk | |
| Average salary | $46,290 | $41,602 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $69,000 | Between $31,000 And $55,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | - | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | - | MDU Resources |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between a timekeeper and a payroll clerk in terms of educational background:
| Timekeeper | Payroll Clerk | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 32% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between timekeepers' and payroll clerks' demographics:
| Timekeeper | Payroll Clerk | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 17.2% Female, 82.8% | Male, 12.4% Female, 87.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |