Research Summary. After comprehensive analysis by the Zippia data science team, we have updated the salary insights for payroll administrators across the United States for 2026:
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Maine offers the highest payroll administrator salary at $59,401.
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South Dakota has the lowest payroll administrator salary at $35,441.
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The national average salary for payroll administrators is $46,596.
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On an hourly basis, payroll administrators earn an average of $22.4.
For more details, explore our specific methodology.
Background
Surveys consistently show that salary remains a top priority for job seekers. A key question many prospective employees ask is, “How much do payroll administrators earn in my area?” Understanding salary expectations can significantly shape career decisions.
While factors such as experience, education, and company size influence individual salaries, our analysis provides a clear picture of average salaries for payroll administrators by state, adjusted for seniority. Although specific city salaries may vary, these averages serve as a valuable reference point for what to expect in terms of compensation.
According to our findings, Maine ranks as the state with the best salary for payroll administrators.
Here’s a summary of the top ten states for payroll administrator salaries:
Let’s take a deeper look at the data and a complete ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Payroll Administrators By State
| Rank | State | Average Payroll Administrator Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $59,401 | $41,000 | $84,000 |
| 2 | New York | $59,326 | $40,000 | $86,000 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $57,551 | $39,000 | $83,000 |
| 4 | California | $56,423 | $39,000 | $80,000 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $55,300 | $38,000 | $79,000 |
| 6 | Virginia | $54,752 | $37,000 | $79,000 |
| 7 | Maryland | $54,536 | $37,000 | $79,000 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $54,277 | $37,000 | $78,000 |
| 9 | Washington | $53,812 | $39,000 | $73,000 |
| 10 | Alaska | $53,638 | $44,000 | $64,000 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $52,627 | $36,000 | $75,000 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $52,496 | $38,000 | $71,000 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $51,978 | $36,000 | $74,000 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $51,655 | $38,000 | $69,000 |
| 15 | Vermont | $51,643 | $36,000 | $73,000 |
| 16 | Illinois | $51,370 | $36,000 | $71,000 |
| 17 | Oregon | $50,653 | $36,000 | $70,000 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $49,536 | $34,000 | $71,000 |
| 19 | Colorado | $49,298 | $35,000 | $67,000 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $49,076 | $35,000 | $67,000 |
| 21 | Nevada | $47,630 | $33,000 | $67,000 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $47,527 | $32,000 | $69,000 |
| 23 | Georgia | $47,178 | $33,000 | $66,000 |
| 24 | Arizona | $47,062 | $33,000 | $66,000 |
| 25 | Texas | $46,942 | $33,000 | $66,000 |
| 26 | Michigan | $46,806 | $32,000 | $66,000 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $46,350 | $33,000 | $64,000 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $45,860 | $33,000 | $63,000 |
| 29 | Utah | $45,458 | $32,000 | $62,000 |
| 30 | Delaware | $45,340 | $31,000 | $65,000 |
| 31 | Mississippi | $45,293 | $32,000 | $63,000 |
| 32 | Montana | $45,105 | $33,000 | $60,000 |
| 33 | Ohio | $45,077 | $31,000 | $64,000 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $45,077 | $31,000 | $64,000 |
| 35 | Kansas | $44,388 | $32,000 | $61,000 |
| 36 | Missouri | $43,872 | $31,000 | $60,000 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $43,674 | $31,000 | $59,000 |
| 38 | Iowa | $43,622 | $31,000 | $60,000 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $42,890 | $30,000 | $60,000 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $42,250 | $30,000 | $58,000 |
| 41 | Idaho | $41,305 | $29,000 | $57,000 |
| 42 | Florida | $40,666 | $28,000 | $57,000 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $40,014 | $28,000 | $56,000 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $39,000 | $27,000 | $54,000 |
| 45 | Indiana | $38,920 | $27,000 | $54,000 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $38,549 | $27,000 | $54,000 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $38,498 | $27,000 | $54,000 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $38,437 | $30,000 | $48,000 |
| 49 | Alabama | $37,032 | $26,000 | $51,000 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $35,441 | $25,000 | $48,000 |
Methodology: Payroll Administrator Salary By State
To assess payroll administrator salaries by state, Zippia has compiled data from various sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Federal Labor Certification (FLC), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). We supplement this data with actual salaries listed in job postings. The data science team calculates a weighted average to determine the average pay for payroll administrators by state.
We ranked each state based on average annual salary data for payroll administrators, with the highest salary ranking as the top state.
Payroll Administrator Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for payroll administrators?
The highest-paid state for payroll administrators is Maine, with an average salary of $59,401 per year.
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What city pays payroll administrators the most?
Washington, DC, offers the highest average salary for payroll administrators at $70,954 per year.
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What is the worst state for payroll administrators?
The state with the lowest average salary for payroll administrators is South Dakota, with an average salary of $35,441 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
