Not Very Resilient
Last Update: 6/19/2026
AI Resilience Score for Payroll & Timekeeping Clerks:
24.4%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
Low
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
Med
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
Low
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
Most data sources align, with only minor variation. This is a well-supported result.
Contributing sources
AI Resilience Report forPayroll and Timekeeping Clerks
$55,290 median salary•13,000 annual openings•SOC Code: 43-3051.00
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks are less resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 7 sources.
Payroll and timekeeping clerks are labeled "Not Very Resilient" because the heart of this job, entering data, tracking hours, and running calculations, follows clear, repeatable rules that AI handles extremely well. Platforms like ADP, Paychex, and UKG already use AI agents to complete multi-step payroll tasks and catch errors automatically, which means the traditional data-entry side of this role is shrinking fast.
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View analysisChat with CoachLatest newsMore career infoAnalysisChatNewsMoreThis role is not very resilient
Payroll and timekeeping clerks are labeled "Not Very Resilient" because the heart of this job, entering data, tracking hours, and running calculations, follows clear, repeatable rules that AI handles extremely well. Platforms like ADP, Paychex, and UKG already use AI agents to complete multi-step payroll tasks and catch errors automatically, which means the traditional data-entry side of this role is shrinking fast.
Read full analysisAnalysis of Current AI Resilience
Payroll & Timekeeping Clerks
Updated Quarterly
How is AI changing Payroll & Timekeeping Clerks jobs?
Payroll is one of the parts of the office that AI is changing the fastest, mostly because the work involves structured data, clear rules, and repeatable steps. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that office and administrative support roles like billing, posting, and procurement clerks will decline or show little change from 2024 to 2034 because AI is expected to deliver additional efficiency gains, and Brookings groups "payroll and timekeeping clerks" [1] among the administrative occupations with high AI exposure and lower-than-average ability to adapt [2]. Today the technology is mostly augmenting rather than fully replacing people: a PYMNTS report from April 2026 [3] describes how ADP's marketplace now offers AI "agents" that can plan and complete multistep payroll tasks, while machine learning catches duplicate punches and missed entries, helping organizations cut monthly payroll errors by an average of 69%.
SHRM's 2026 study echoes this, finding that AI's organizational impact is 5.7 times more likely to shift job responsibilities and three times more likely to create new roles than to displace jobs.
Sources
How fast is AI adoption growing for Payroll & Timekeeping Clerks?
Adoption is moving quickly because tools are already commercially available inside platforms like ADP, Paychex, UKG, and Rippling, and the savings are easy to measure. But it isn't instant. PayrollOrg's "Future of Payroll 2026" recap [4] notes that many employers still rely on manual processes and disconnected systems, which limits AI's potential.
Trust is another brake: a PayrollOrg "Getting Paid in America" survey [5] found 34% of workers are uncomfortable with AI calculating their wages and 45% oppose AI handling payroll questions. The takeaway for young people is hopeful: skills like compliance judgment, employee communication, data analysis, and system oversight — areas humans still own — are exactly what payroll professionals are being encouraged to develop [6] as the role evolves from data entry into strategic, people-focused work.
Sources
Will AI replace Payroll & Timekeeping Clerks?
In part. We think AI will eventually automate a real share of this work, but the transition creates real opportunities for people willing to grow with it.
Payroll and timekeeping sits at a 24.4% AI Resilience Score because so much of the job is built on structured data, clear rules, and repeatable steps. Tools already built into platforms like ADP can plan and complete multistep payroll tasks and cut monthly payroll errors significantly [3]. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects limited growth for administrative support roles through 2034, and Brookings places payroll clerks among occupations with high AI exposure and lower-than-average ability to adapt (brookings.edu, bls.gov). That is a real and honest signal.
What it does not mean is that the people in this field have no future. Many employers still rely on manual processes and disconnected systems, which slows full automation [4]. And a large share of workers are uncomfortable with AI handling their pay questions [5], which means human judgment and communication still matter. The smarter move for anyone in this role is to treat it as a launching pad. Skills in compliance, data analysis, and employee communication transfer well into HR operations, benefits administration, and financial analysis. The job may shrink. The career path does not have to.
Sources
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Latest AI news for Payroll & Timekeeping Clerks
These articles highlight crucial insights for aspiring Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in an AI-driven job market. The risk of automation in clerical roles is significant, as noted in the studies, emphasizing the importance of skills that involve empathy and critical thinking. For instance, AI can streamline payroll processes, cutting processing time by 40% and reducing errors by 25%. This means that while some tasks may be automated, those who adapt by enhancing their skills in oversight and compliance will remain valuable, showcasing AI resilience in their careers.
Will AI Shrink Payroll Teams? A Payroll Expert's Perspective
www.celeryway.com • 6/20/2026
For instance, AI can reduce payroll processing time by up to 40% and decrease errors by 25%, as seen in some implementations. Enhanced Accuracy and Compliance: ... Read more
Gen AI in Payroll for Modern, Agile Workforces
www.thehackettgroup.com • 6/20/2026
Discover how Gen AI in payroll improves accuracy, boosts compliance, and reduces manual effort through automation and data-driven intelligence.
Why Women Workers Are Facing the Biggest AI Risk — and What They Should Do Now
www.moneytalksnews.com • 1/30/2026
The latest research on artificial intelligence (AI) and jobs isn't great news for millions of American women.
AI poses bigger threat in jobs with more women, study finds
www.cbsnews.com • 1/29/2026
Workers in clerical and administrative roles could have the most trouble adapting to the impact of AI on jobs, new research shows.
Which Jobs Face the Highest Risk of Automation, and Which Ones Are Likely Safe?
www.digitalinformationworld.com • 7/20/2025
Manual, repetitive jobs with low judgment risk full automation; AI-resistant roles rely on empathy and complexity.
More Career Info
Career: Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks
They make sure employees get paid correctly by tracking hours worked and preparing paychecks on time.
Parent Careers
Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$55,290
Jobs (2024)
161,100
Growth (2024-34)
-16.7%
Annual Openings
13,000
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Provide information to employees and managers on payroll matters, tax issues, benefit plans, and collective agreement provisions.
2
Distribute and collect timecards each pay period.
3
Compile statistical reports, statements, and summaries related to pay and benefits accounts, and submit them to appropriate departments.
4
Post relevant work hours to client files to bill clients properly.
5
Keep informed about changes in tax and deduction laws that apply to the payroll process.
6
Complete time sheets showing employees' arrival and departure times.
7
Complete, verify, and process forms and documentation for administration of benefits such as pension plans, and unemployment and medical insurance.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
