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Video Overview (en Espanol):


Video Courtesy of the US Department of Labor.



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Career Summary:


  • Process and issue employee paychecks and statements of earnings and deductions.
  • Compute wages and deductions, and enter data into computers.
  • Compile employee time, production, and payroll data from time sheets and other records.
  • Review time sheets, work charts, wage computation, and other information to detect and reconcile payroll discrepancies.
  • Verify attendance, hours worked, and pay adjustments, and post information onto designated records.
  • Record employee information, such as exemptions, transfers, and resignations, to maintain and update payroll records.
  • Issue and record adjustments to pay related to previous errors or retroactive increases.
  • Keep informed about changes in tax and deduction laws that apply to the payroll process.
  • Provide information to employees and managers on payroll matters, tax issues, benefit plans, and collective agreement provisions.
  • Complete time sheets showing employees' arrival and departure times.
  • Post relevant work hours to client files to bill clients properly.
  • Distribute and collect timecards each pay period.
  • Complete, verify, and process forms and documentation for administration of benefits such as pension plans, and unemployment and medical insurance.
  • Prepare and balance period-end reports, and reconcile issued payrolls to bank statements.
  • Compile statistical reports, statements, and summaries related to pay and benefits accounts, and submit them to appropriate departments.
  • Coordinate special programs, such as United Way campaigns, that involve payroll deductions.
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  • Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
  • Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
  • Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  • Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
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  • A high school education is required for this position. Additional training in a post-secondary institution is looked upon favorably by most employers. For related information and recommended courses to prepare for this occupation, Tennessee high school students may visit the Business and Information Technology Standards online.

    Military job training consists of 6 to 12 weeks of classroom instruction, including practice in accounting techniques. Course content typically includes accounting principles and procedures; preparation and maintenance of financial reports and budgets; statistical analyses to interpret financial data; and computation of pay and deductions.

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  • Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
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  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
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  • Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
  • First Interest High-Point - Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
  • Second Interest High-Point - Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
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  • Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
  • Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
  • Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
  • Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
  • Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
  • Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
  • Self Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
  • Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
  • Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
  • Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
  • Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
  • Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
  • Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
  • Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
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  • Working Conditions - Workers on this job have good working conditions.
  • Independence - Workers on this job do their work alone.
  • Security - Workers on this job have steady employment.
  • Company Policies and Practices - Workers on this job are treated fairly by the company.
  • Supervision, Human Relations - Workers on this job have supervisors who back up their workers with management.
  • Support-Mean Extent - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
  • Activity - Workers on this job are busy all the time.
  • Working Conditions-Mean Extent - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
  • Advancement - Workers on this job have opportunities for advancement.
  • Co-workers - Workers on this job have co-workers who are easy to get along with.
  • Supervision, Technical - Workers on this job have supervisors who train their workers well.
  • Autonomy - Workers on this job plan their work with little supervision.
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10%25%Median- 50%75%90%
TN Annual$20,850$25,810$30,960$37,620$45,570
US Annual$22,450$27,570$33,810$40,730$48,200

*Some salaries are listed at an hourly rate. Those that include a single dollar amount are considered hourly wage.

Wage and salary data provided by:


  • Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tennessee Department of Labor website
  • TN Department of Labor & Workforce Development website
  • Bureau of Economic Analysis website

For an explanation of salary data please visit acinet.org


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