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Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Salary in Maryland: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary really buy you in Maryland?

Maryland is 5.0% pricier than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$59,760
Median annual (2025)
-4.8%
Real Purchasing Power
$56,914
COL-adjusted (RPP=105.0)

Maryland Cost of Living Index

Maryland's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 105.0, meaning prices are 5.0% higher the national average. A Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks earning $59,760 in Maryland has the equivalent purchasing power of $56,914 in an average-cost US state.

MD: 105.0
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Maryland's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $31,750 $30,238 $-1,511
25th Percentile (P25) $48,740 $46,419 $-2,320
Median (P50) $59,760 $56,914 $-2,845
75th Percentile (P75) $69,350 $66,047 $-3,302
90th Percentile (P90) $82,140 $78,228 $-3,911
Key Insight

While $59,760 sounds high, Maryland's elevated cost of living erases 5% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $56,914. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Maryland Is a High-Cost State

RPP 105.0

Maryland's RPP of 105.0 puts it 5.0% above the national baseline cost of living. A Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks needs that premium in nominal pay just to maintain the same purchasing power as an average-cost state.

Meaningful Purchasing-Power Shift

-4.8%

After applying Maryland's RPP, the $59,760 median salary translates to $56,914 in real terms — a 4.8% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks.

Below-Median Adjusted Pay

#30 / 51

Maryland's rank of #30 of 51 states means real purchasing power for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks trails the national half-way line.

Best States for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks (After Cost of Living)

Where does Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$68,320
RPP 88.7
$64,257
RPP 92.3
$64,039
RPP 116.6
4. Kansas
$62,877
RPP 90.0
$62,763
RPP 97.7
$62,697
RPP 102.3
7. Georgia
$62,620
RPP 95.8
8. Ohio
$62,590
RPP 91.5
9. Iowa
$61,176
RPP 88.4
10. Nebraska
$61,135
RPP 89.8

Maryland ranks #30 out of 51 states for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks take-home pay in Maryland after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in Maryland after cost of living?

A Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in Maryland earns a median salary of $59,760 per year. After adjusting for Maryland's cost of living (RPP=105.0), the real purchasing power is $56,914 — a -4.8% difference.

Is Maryland expensive to live in?

Maryland's cost of living is 5.0% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Maryland is 105.0 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in Maryland: $59,760 x (100 / 105.0) = $56,914. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Does the high cost of living in Maryland offset the salary?

Partially — a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks's nominal salary of $59,760 in Maryland has 4.8% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $56,914. However, Maryland may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.

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