Chief payroll clerk vs payroll specialist

The differences between chief payroll clerks and payroll specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a chief payroll clerk and a payroll specialist. Additionally, a chief payroll clerk has an average salary of $53,799, which is higher than the $46,462 average annual salary of a payroll specialist.

The top three skills for a chief payroll clerk include budget, payroll and customer service. The most important skills for a payroll specialist are customer service, data entry, and payroll data.

Chief payroll clerk vs payroll specialist overview

	Chief Payroll Clerk	Payroll Specialist
Yearly salary	$53,799	$46,462
Hourly rate	$25.86	$22.34
Growth rate	-3%	-3%
Number of jobs	84,588	6,609
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 44%	Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Average age	48	48
Years of experience	4	4

Chief payroll clerk vs payroll specialist salary

Chief payroll clerks and payroll specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Chief Payroll Clerk	Payroll Specialist
Average salary	$53,799	$46,462
Salary range	Between $39,000 And $72,000	Between $34,000 And $61,000
Highest paying City	-	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	-	Connecticut
Best paying company	-	Cambridge Associates
Best paying industry	-	Technology

Differences between chief payroll clerk and payroll specialist education

There are a few differences between a chief payroll clerk and a payroll specialist in terms of educational background:

	Chief Payroll Clerk	Payroll Specialist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 44%	Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Minnesota - Twin Cities	University of Pennsylvania

Chief payroll clerk vs payroll specialist demographics

Here are the differences between chief payroll clerks' and payroll specialists' demographics:

	Chief Payroll Clerk	Payroll Specialist
Average age	48	48
Gender ratio	Male, 44.0% Female, 56.0%	Male, 17.3% Female, 82.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.3% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 13.0% Asian, 5.2% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%	Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 6.0% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage	10%	10%

Differences between chief payroll clerk and payroll specialist duties and responsibilities

Chief payroll clerk example responsibilities.

Demonstrate strong math skills in managing inmate s accounts and calmly and effectively deescalating outbursts of belligerent inmates.
Research and advise upper management orally and in writing on issues impacting payroll and/or budget.
Administer the payroll for the firm, using the ADP manual data entry payroll service.
Process payroll and supervise timekeeping functions.
Maintain cleanliness of the company warehouse, operate warehouse machinery and organize the warehouse to ensure proper product placement.
Provide help desk support DTS travelers.

Payroll specialist example responsibilities.

Manage a bi-weekly payroll in accordance with establish processes, including auditing timekeeping records for compliance with establish standards and policies.
Handle all FMLA, insurance, employee benefits and processing the payroll on bi-weekly bases through the KRONOS timekeeping system.
Utilize KRONOS for timekeeping and to administer security access.
Prepare payroll journal entry and provide guidance in general ledger reconciliations pertaining to payroll general ledger accounts and labor expense distribution
Establish new hires in the KRONOS timekeeping system and provide guidance and assistance to associates to communicate their responsibilities regarding payroll/timekeeping.
Input employee data into Lawson payroll program while using the utmost integrity to keep information confidential.

Chief payroll clerk vs payroll specialist skills

Common chief payroll clerk skills

Budget, 44%
Payroll, 44%
Customer Service, 12%

Common payroll specialist skills

Customer Service, 13%
Data Entry, 7%
Payroll Data, 5%
Human Resources, 4%
ADP Workforce, 4%
Kronos, 3%

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Office and Administrative Industry
Chief Payroll Clerk
Chief Payroll Clerk vs Payroll Specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

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