How much does a Payroll Specialist make?
Experience
- All years of Experience
- 0-1 Years
- 1-3 Years
- 4-6 Years
- 7-9 Years
- 10-14 Years
- 15+ Years
Industry
- All industries
- Legal
- Aerospace & Defense
- Agriculture
- Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
- Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology
- Management & Consulting
- Construction, Repair & Maintenance Services
- Personal Consumer Services
- Education
- Financial Services
- Government & Public Administration
- Healthcare
- Information Technology
- Insurance
- Manufacturing
- Media & Communication
- Nonprofit & NGO
- Energy, Mining & Utilities
- Real Estate
- Restaurants & Food Service
- Retail & Wholesale
- Telecommunications
- Transportation & Logistics
- Hotels & Travel Accommodation
- Human Resources & Staffing
$54K
/yrThe estimated total pay for a Payroll Specialist is $53,840 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $50,846 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated additional pay is $2,994 per year. Additional pay could include cash bonus, commission, tips, and profit sharing. The "Most Likely Range" represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role.
How accurate is this most likely Total Pay range (base + additional) of $46K-$64K/yr?
For Payroll Specialist
Download as data table
What is the total pay trajectory for Payroll Specialist?
| Job Title | Salary |
|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | $53,840 /yr |
| Senior Payroll Specialist | $61,568 /yr |
| Lead Payroll Specialist | $58,245 /yr |
Related Job Titles
For Payroll Specialist
Some related job titles are Payroll Coordinator Salaries with median pay of $53,821, Senior Payroll Specialist Salaries with median pay of $61,568, Payroll Administrator Salaries with median pay of $60,888, Payroll Analyst Salaries with median pay of $71,079.
Top Paying Companies
For a Payroll Specialist in United States
Below is the total pay for the top 10 highest paying companies for a Payroll Specialist in United States. Employers include Intuit, Proskauer Rose and UKG.
Top Paying Companies
For Payroll Specialist in United States
| 1 | Intuit | $64,577 | |
| 2 | Proskauer Rose | $61,942 | |
| 3 | UKG | $60,857 | |
| 4 | NAES | $59,803 | |
| 5 | Kaiser Permanente | $59,585 | |
| 6 | Helpside | $57,834 | |
| 7 | Gusto | $57,780 | |
| 8 | Entertainment Partners | $57,056 | |
| 9 | United Airlines | $56,340 | |
| 10 | Sequoia | $56,276 |
For Payroll Specialist
Download as data table
What is the total pay trajectory for Payroll Specialist?
| Job Title | Salary |
|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | $53,840 /yr |
| Senior Payroll Specialist | $61,568 /yr |
| Lead Payroll Specialist | $58,245 /yr |
What are total pay estimates for a Payroll Specialist at different companies?
- Popular
- Most Reports
- Salary: high to low
- Salary: low to high
$51,413
/ yr
$50,467
/ yrIs this salary info helpful?
Let’s pay it forward! The Glassdoor community relies on people like you to share accurate salary info to promote fair compensation everywhere
$46,959
/ yr
$21
/ hr
$23
/ hr
$23
/ hr
$23
/ hr
$47,269
/ yr
$49,284
/ yr
Payroll Specialist Salaries
Top Paying Industries
For a Payroll Specialist in United States
The top 5 paying industries for a Payroll Specialist in United States are Legal with a median total pay of $61,942, Energy, Mining & Utilities with a median total pay of $59,803, Information Technology with a median total pay of $53,342, Transportation & Logistics with a median total pay of $52,777, and Insurance with a median total pay of $51,798.
Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview
What is the pay outlook for Human Resources?
Human resources (HR) jobs are an essential part of many businesses and tend to grow at a similar rate as the overall labor market. As the labor market strengthens and businesses increase hiring, more recruiters and HR specialists are needed. Many HR jobs lend themselves well to remote work, which will become more common in the coming years. Smaller companies are expected to continue to shift many HR functions to agencies, rather than rely on in-house specialists, providing opportunities for employees to diversify their work. Data and technology will play an increasingly important role in HR, so digital and quantitative skills can help candidates stand out.
Recent Salaries Shared
For payroll specialist
Job Title
Location
Total Pay
Base Pay | Additional Pay
Total Years of Experience
Years at Recent Employer
Submitted
Date or Time
United States of America
| 1-3 years
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United States of America
| 7-9 years
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United States of America
| 1-3 years
/hr
Submitted Yesterday
United States of America
| 1-3 years
/hr
$23 | $2K
Submitted Yesterday
United States of America
| 1-3 years
/yr
Submitted Yesterday
United States of America
| 7-9 years
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Submitted Yesterday
United States of America
| 4-6 years
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United States of America
| <1 year
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Payroll Specialist pay FAQ
The average salary for a Payroll Specialist is $53,840 per year in United States. Salaries estimates are based on 6349 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Payroll Specialist employees in United States.
The highest salary for a Payroll Specialist in United States is $63,752 per year.
The lowest salary for a Payroll Specialist in United States is $45,652 per year.
If you are thinking of becoming a Payroll Specialist or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of a Payroll Specialist.
69% of payroll specialists are satisfied with their current salary, according to Glassdoor's ratings. Many can also make around $2,993.94 of additional pay every year by working overtime, getting commissions for high-quality work, or benefiting from profit sharing.
The average payroll specialist has multiple years of experience and makes around $50,839.90 annually. Salary, which doesn't include additional money such as bonuses, ranges from $39,380.29 to $74,140.83. Additional education or more experience in the role can open higher paying positions faster than usual, but the next step in the average payroll specialist career path is a senior payroll specialist.
If you're looking to earn a higher salary as a payroll specialist, there are several actions you can take. While most people in this role have at least an associate's degree in accounting or a business speciality, earning a bachelor's or graduate degree can open up higher paying positions quickly. You could also get certifications in wage and tax laws, as most senior payroll positions require a strong understanding of these laws. Some companies also offer continuing education for free, including courses on commonly used software within the company and general programs like Microsoft Office.
When looking for a higher salary as a payroll specialist, you can search for payroll specialist vacancies or ask for a raise at your current job. While finding a new job can lead to a larger salary and more negotiating power, asking for a raise can keep you with your current company if you love the culture or benefits.
Your first step is to research what the market rate is for a payroll specialist, taking your area and time in the position into consideration. Usually you should ask for a 10% to 20% raise over your current salary or the current job offer amount.