What does a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary really buy you in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin is 7.7% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Wisconsin's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 92.3, meaning prices are 7.7% lower the national average. A Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks earning $55,430 in Wisconsin has the equivalent purchasing power of $60,054 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $40,780 | $44,182 | +$3,402 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $47,360 | $51,310 | +$3,950 |
| Median (P50) | $55,430 | $60,054 | +$4,624 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $63,730 | $69,046 | +$5,316 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $73,830 | $79,989 | +$6,159 |
A Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in Wisconsin earns $55,430 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 8% further — like earning $60,054 in an average-cost state. This makes Wisconsin one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Wisconsin ranks #4 out of 50 states for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in Wisconsin earns a median salary of $55,430 per year. After adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living (RPP=92.3), the real purchasing power is $60,054 — a +8.3% difference.
Wisconsin's cost of living is 7.7% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Wisconsin is 92.3 (US average = 100).
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.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in Wisconsin: $55,430 x (100 / 92.3) = $60,054. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in Wisconsin enjoys 8.3% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.