Last updated:
$42,000 USD is the average salary for an Accounts Payable Clerk in Lansing, MI, with the full market range stretching from roughly $34,000 to $62,000 USD depending on experience, ERP proficiency, and employer type. This page covers base pay across entry, mid-career, and senior tiers, compares Lansing to nearby Michigan cities, and explains the specific skills - three-way match, month-end close participation, and high-volume invoice processing - that push pay toward the top of the band. Ranges vary because invoice volume, industry sector, company size, and ERP platform fluency each affect how employers price this role.
Pay at each tier is shaped by invoice complexity, ERP access, and involvement in month-end close - not just years on the job.
$34,000 - $40,000 USD
Handles basic invoice entry and coding under supervision with limited ERP ownership and no three-way match responsibility.
$40,000 - $50,000 USD
Runs three-way match independently, supports month-end close accruals, and manages a vendor portfolio of 100-300 accounts.
$50,000 - $57,000 USD
Owns a high-volume AP queue (500+ invoices/month), administers ERP workflow rules, and coordinates with procurement on PO exceptions.
$57,000 - $62,000 USD
Provides process ownership across the full AP cycle, supports internal and external audits, and mentors junior clerks during month-end close.
Many AP clerks plateau because their resume describes duties rather than volume and outcomes - hiring managers in Lansing manufacturing and government sectors pay more when candidates can quantify accuracy, throughput, and ERP ownership. Changing how you present your experience often moves you a full tier.
The difference between a $38K and a $52K offer in Lansing often comes down to how your resume frames invoice volume, ERP proficiency, and month-end close involvement. Optimize your resume to match the exact language employers use when they post AP clerk roles.
Higher-paying candidates typically show:
State capital with a mix of government agencies, Michigan State University, auto-adjacent suppliers, and healthcare - a stable but moderately priced AP market.
The largest Michigan market commands a 10-15% premium driven by major automotive OEMs, large construction firms, and corporate headquarters density.
Strong manufacturing and healthcare employer base; pay is close to Lansing but competition for experienced AP staff is slightly higher.
University of Michigan and a dense tech and life sciences cluster push AP pay slightly above the state average, particularly for candidates with ERP experience.
Generally tracks below Lansing; government and healthcare are the primary AP employers, with fewer high-paying corporate roles.
Pharmaceutical manufacturing (Stryker and Pfizer legacy sites) offers targeted AP premium for candidates with purchase order and three-way match skills.
AP clerks in Lansing often earn overtime during quarter-end and year-end close cycles, which can add $1,500 to $4,000 to annual take-home. Some employers offer a small annual performance bonus of $500 to $1,500. These amounts are excluded from all base salary ranges on this page.
A small number of Lansing-area AP roles are hybrid or fully remote, typically at larger employers with standardized ERP environments. Remote roles occasionally post national pay bands that exceed local market rates; always confirm whether a posted range is location-adjusted before negotiating.
State of Michigan and Ingham County government AP roles follow defined pay grades with predictable step increases and strong benefits, but base salaries often start below private-sector equivalents. The total compensation picture (pension, healthcare) may favor government for long-tenure employees.
Complete these steps before accepting or countering any offer.
Get ATS-optimized feedback and role-specific language upgrades that map your experience to salary-driving outcomes: ownership, impact, and delivery at scale.
Answers to the most common questions about Accounts Payable Clerk compensation in Lansing, MI, US.
The typical base salary range for an Accounts Payable Clerk in Lansing, MI is approximately $34,000 to $62,000 USD per year, with an average near $42,000. Pay varies based on years of experience, ERP proficiency, invoice volume, and employer type. State government and large manufacturers tend to anchor toward the middle and upper parts of the range.
Entry-level AP clerks in Michigan typically earn $34,000 to $40,000 USD per year. SalaryExpert data puts the average entry-level (1-3 years) AP clerk in Michigan at approximately $36,000. Candidates who can demonstrate basic ERP use and invoice coding accuracy tend to land at the higher end of the entry range.
Detroit metro AP clerk salaries run roughly 10-15% higher than Lansing, with Detroit-area averages ranging from $38,000 to $68,000 USD. The gap is driven by the density of large corporate employers and automotive OEMs in Metro Detroit. Lansing candidates willing to commute or work hybrid for Detroit employers can access that premium.
Three-way match (PO, receipt, and invoice reconciliation), ERP platform proficiency (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite), high-volume invoice processing, and month-end close participation are the top pay drivers. Candidates who can quantify invoice throughput and accuracy on their resume consistently outperform peers in salary negotiations.
Yes, significantly. Employers in Lansing manufacturing and healthcare sectors pay a measurable premium for candidates with hands-on SAP, Oracle, or NetSuite experience versus those who only know QuickBooks or manual entry. ERP fluency signals that onboarding time will be shorter and process errors lower.
At the senior or AP Specialist level with 8+ years of experience, top earners in the Lansing area can reach approximately $57,000 to $62,000 USD in base salary. Salary.com data for Lansing puts the 90th percentile for AP Clerk II in Michigan at around $56,700. Moving to a Lead AP or AP Supervisor title typically unlocks higher bands.
AP clerking is a solid entry point into accounting and finance in Lansing, especially given the presence of state government, Michigan State University, Sparrow Health, McLaren Greater Lansing, and auto-sector suppliers. The role builds transferable skills (reconciliation, ERP, accruals) that support promotion into staff accountant, AP supervisor, or controller-track roles.
Come to the negotiation with specific data: your monthly invoice volume, named ERP platforms, and the current Lansing market range from Salary.com or Glassdoor. Counter at no less than the midpoint of the posted band if you have 2+ years of experience. Employers rarely rescind offers for a reasonable counter backed by market data.
Explore salary ranges for similar accounting and administrative roles in Lansing, nearby Michigan cities, and comparable markets.
| Job title | Entry Level | Mid-Career | Senior | Lead / Senior II |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounts Payable Clerk | $33,000 - $40,000 USD | $40,000 - $48,000 USD | $48,000 - $54,000 USD | $54,000 - $56,000 USD |
| Accounts Payable Clerk | $33,000 - $39,000 USD | $39,000 - $46,000 USD | $46,000 - $53,000 USD | $53,000 - $58,000 USD |
| Bookkeeper | $33,000 - $42,000 USD | $42,000 - $52,000 USD | $52,000 - $63,000 USD | $63,000 - $73,000 USD |
| Payroll Assistant | $40,000 - $52,000 CAD | $53,000 - $68,000 CAD | $68,000 - $82,000 CAD | $82,000 - $95,000 CAD |
| Executive Assistant | $44,000 - $57,000 USD | $57,000 - $75,000 USD | $75,000 - $95,000 USD | $95,000 - $120,000 USD |
| Office Administrator | $34,000 - $42,000 USD | $42,000 - $56,000 USD | $56,000 - $70,000 USD | $70,000 - $85,000 USD |
| Billing Clerk | $36K - $42K CAD | $42K - $54K CAD | $54K - $64K CAD | $64K - $68K CAD |
| Operations Coordinator | $38,000 - $46,000 USD | $46,000 - $60,000 USD | $60,000 - $72,000 USD | $72,000 - $78,000 USD |
Explore strategies to negotiate your AP Clerk salary, optimize your resume for ATS systems, and understand the skills that drive earnings in this field.
Learn practical negotiation strategies to maximize your earning potential once you understand the market range for Accounts Payable Clerk positions.
Read article →This guide to financial operations resumes covers the critical skills and accomplishments—like three-way matching and month-end close participation—that employers value in accounts payable roles.
Read article →Ensure your Accounts Payable Clerk resume passes ATS screening by formatting it correctly, so your qualifications and ERP proficiency reach hiring managers.
Read article →Understand the broader hiring landscape and employer demand for accounting and finance roles across Michigan to contextualize Lansing's AP Clerk market.
Read article →Salary ranges on this page were compiled by cross-referencing multiple public compensation databases for Lansing, MI and the broader Michigan market. Where Lansing-specific data was limited, state-level and Michigan-city-level figures were used to interpolate local ranges, with a conservative adjustment for Lansing's mid-market position relative to Detroit and Ann Arbor.
Sentiment drawn from public forums, review platforms, and community discussions observed through early 2026. Individual experiences vary by employer and tenure.
“I've been doing AP for three years and just hit $45K after switching companies - staying put kept me at $38K for two years”
Reflects a common theme that job-hopping is the fastest way to reset AP clerk pay in the Michigan market, where internal raises are often below market movement.
“Month-end is brutal but it's the only time I feel like I have leverage - they know they can't lose someone mid-close”
Indicates that month-end close participation, while stressful, is recognized by Michigan AP workers as a genuine negotiating lever when timing a raise request.
“Every posting says 'ERP required' but they won't tell you the salary until the third interview”
Points to a transparency gap in Lansing-area AP postings; candidates should research bands proactively rather than waiting for employers to disclose them.
“NetSuite added $6K to my offer when I moved to a bigger company in Grand Rapids - worth learning on your own time”
Confirms that specific ERP platform knowledge translates into measurable salary differences even within Michigan's relatively compressed AP pay market.
“Good benefits through the state but the pay scale hasn't moved much in years - private sector pays better base”
Highlights the trade-off Lansing-area AP clerks face between stable government employment with strong benefits and higher base pay in private manufacturing or healthcare.
State of Michigan · McLaren Greater Lansing · Sparrow Health System · Christman Constructors · Accident Fund Insurance · Auto-Owners Insurance · Jackson National Life · Granger Construction · Emergent BioSolutions · Capital Area Michigan Works
Salary.com - Accounts Payable Clerk II Salary in Michigan (February 2026). State average and Lansing-specific figures. Salary.com Michigan AP Clerk II
SalaryExpert (ERI) - Accounts Payable Clerk Salary Michigan. Entry-level and senior-level benchmarks with bonus data. SalaryExpert Michigan AP Clerk
ZipRecruiter - Accounts Payable Clerk Salary in Michigan (February 2025). Hourly rate distribution and percentile breakdown. ZipRecruiter Michigan AP Clerk
Glassdoor - Accounts Payable Clerk Salary United States (February 2026). National percentile ranges and industry breakdowns. Glassdoor AP Clerk National
ERI Economic Research Institute - Accounts Payable Clerk Salary Detroit, Michigan (2025). Range and education benchmarks for the broader Michigan metro market. ERI Detroit AP Clerk