Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Payroll Clerk
What payroll clerks actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a payroll clerk?
Collect timesheets. From there, the day usually includes collect time records, calculate pay, and process deductions. Full-time hours with firm payroll deadlines.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a payroll clerk working full time.
- Collect timesheets.
- Fix missing punches.
- Calculate overtime.
- Process new hires.
- Run payroll preview.
- Answer a paycheck question.
- Submit payroll.
Where payroll clerks work
Payroll clerks work in HR and accounting offices, and remotely.
Hours and schedule
Full-time hours with firm payroll deadlines.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Collect time records
- Calculate pay
- Process deductions
- Run payroll
- Answer pay questions
- File payroll taxes
- Maintain records
Tools you’ll use every day
- ADP
- Paychex
- Workday
- Timekeeping systems
- Excel
- QuickBooks Payroll
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Every employer needs payroll
- No degree needed
- Remote options
- Clear processes
What’s hard
- Declining employment
- Firm deadlines
- Upset employees when errors happen
- Year-end crunch
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I’m very accurate
- I keep things confidential
- I like deadlines
- I like numbers
- I want steady office work
- I don’t need a degree
Not sure? Take the free Payroll Clerk fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Protect pay and Social Security data
- Follow wage and hour laws
- Prevent payroll fraud
- Use secure systems