Tax Preparers vs Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks AI Risk

Job 1

Job 2

Job 1

Job 2

medium risk

Tax Preparers

44 shared · 10 different

core competencies

high risk

Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks

Side-by-Side Comparison

Tax Preparers leads 4–1

Metric	Tax Preparers	Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks
Risk Score	44.6%	58.9%
Risk Tier	Medium Risk	High Risk
Risk Percentile	90th	99th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)	8 / 12	15 / 15
Median Salary	$50,560	$55,290
Employment	74K	157K

Skill Comparison

Sorted by largest difference

Clerical

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others

Law and Government

Economics and Accounting

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings

Getting Information

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Deductive Reasoning

Scheduling Work and Activities

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Tax Preparers

26%

total discount

Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks

23%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Tax Preparers

8 of 12 at risk

88%Compute taxes owed or overpaid, using adding machines or personal computers, and complete entries on forms, following tax form instructions and tax tables.

86%Schedule appointments with clients.

86%Calculate form preparation fees according to return complexity and processing time required.

84%Prepare or assist in preparing simple to complex tax returns for individuals or small businesses.

84%Review financial records such as income statements and documentation of expenditures to determine forms needed to prepare tax returns.

Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks

15 of 15 at risk

87%Process and issue employee paychecks and statements of earnings and deductions.

87%Complete time sheets showing employees' arrival and departure times.

87%Keep track of leave time, such as vacation, personal, and sick leave, for employees.

86%Compile employee time, production, and payroll data from time sheets and other records.

86%Verify attendance, hours worked, and pay adjustments, and post information onto designated records.

Wage Comparison

Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks earns +$4,730(+9%) vs Tax Preparers

Tax PreparersPayroll and Timekeeping Clerks

10th

$30,500$36,670

25th

$37,750$45,440

Median

$50,560$55,290

75th

$75,590$65,750

90th

$96,240$78,830

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Tax Preparers2028–2035

Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks2028–2035

20242030203520402045

Tax Preparers has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

Salary weighted by displacement risk: salary × (1 − risk%)

Tax Preparers

$28,025

from $50,560

Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks

$22,746

from $55,290

After adjusting for AI risk, Tax Preparers offers $5,279 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

Unique to Tax

Unique to Payroll

Combined Protection Strategy

Regardless of which path you choose, focus on these protective factors

Creativity

Regulatory Barriers

Social Intelligence

Fine Manipulation

Tax PreparersPayroll and Timekeeping Clerks

Find transitions from Tax Preparers Find transitions from Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks