Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk Salary in the United States

How much does an Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk make in the United States? As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk in the United States is $52,386 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $25.

However, an Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk's salary can vary significantly. Here's a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $60,602
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $48,528 to $56,686
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $45,015

Key Factors That Influence Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk Salaries

An Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $46,047
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $51,490
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $57,080
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $74,976
  • Expert (over 8 years): $91,714
Job RoleYears of ExperienceAverage Salary
Accounts Payable Clerk I less than 1 year $46,047
Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk 1-2 years $51,490
Accounts Payable Clerk III 2-4 years $57,080
Accounts Payable Supervisor 5-8 years $74,976
Accounts Payable Senior Supervisor over 8 years $91,714

Top Paying Cities for Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $66,074
  • San Francisco: $65,351
  • Oakland: $63,974

Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology $62,863 $30.0 20%
Pharmaceuticals $61,815 $30.0 18%
Energy & Utilities $60,244 $29.0 15%
Financial Services $60,244 $29.0 15%
Chemicals $57,625 $28.0 10%

How Education impacts an Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk professionals enter the field with a Associate's degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk with a Associate's is between $48,167 and $50,899.

Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Degree 1.1%
High School 38.3%
Associate's Degree 25.9%
Bachelor's Degree 32.2%
Master's Degree or MBA 2.3%
JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent 0.2%

Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$48,528
Average $52,386/year
$56,686
$4,044
Average $4,366/month
$4,724
$933
Average $1,007/week
$1,090
$23
Average $25/hour
$27
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $56,686 $4,724 $1,090 $27
Average $52,386 $4,366 $1,007 $25
25th Percentile $48,528 $4,044 $933 $23

Most common benefits for Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk

Here are companies hiring for Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Strategic Solutions & Delivery. About the Company. Innovative provider of cost containment technology & case management services. Industry.... more

    7 Days Ago

  • MyJobsCorner | Columbus, OH

    MyJobsCorner | Columbus, OH

    Find your next job here. Will train the right candidate. Average salaries from $12 - $22/Hr, full time and part time shifts available now. Hiring for: Bake... more

    7 Days Ago

  • MyJobsCorner | Columbus, OH

    MyJobsCorner | Columbus, OH

    Find your next job here. Will train the right candidate. Average salaries from $12 - $22/Hr, full time and part time shifts available now. Hiring for: Chip... more

    16 Days Ago

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu... more

    23 Days Ago

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    28 Days Ago

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    30 Days Ago

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FAQ about Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Accounts Payable & Purchasing Clerk roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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