Best cities for a payroll analyst
The best cities for payroll analysts are Reno, NV, Lincoln, NE, and Minneapolis, MN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for payroll analysts vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for payroll analysts in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a payroll analyst or considering a move, this list of the best cities for payroll analysts to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for payroll analysts. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a payroll analyst. While the absolute best city for payroll analysts is Reno, NV, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for payroll analysts in 2024.
If you're looking for a payroll analyst job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for payroll analysts in 2026
1. Reno, NV
Total payroll analyst jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $59,105 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location quotient: 1.88 2. Lincoln, NE
Total payroll analyst jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $59,556 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location quotient: 1.93 3. Minneapolis, MN
Total payroll analyst jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $56,607 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location quotient: 3.76 4. Milwaukee, WI
Total payroll analyst jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $57,562 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location quotient: 1.80 5. Las Vegas, NV
Total payroll analyst jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $56,173 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location quotient: 2.41 6. Saint Paul, MN
Total payroll analyst jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $56,622 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location quotient: 2.22 7. Boston, MA
Total payroll analyst jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $62,470 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location quotient: 2.18 8. Omaha, NE
Total payroll analyst jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $59,798 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location quotient: 1.67 9. Portland, OR
Total payroll analyst jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $57,960 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location quotient: 2.50 10. Pittsburgh, PA
Total payroll analyst jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $51,916 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location quotient: 2.11
Choose from 10+ customizable payroll analyst resume templates
Choose from a variety of easy-to-use payroll analyst resume templates and get expert advice from Zippia’s AI resume writer along the way. Using pre-approved templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your payroll analyst resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Best cities for payroll analysts
- Reno, NV
- Lincoln, NE
- Minneapolis, MN
- Milwaukee, WI
- Las Vegas, NV
- Saint Paul, MN
- Boston, MA
- Omaha, NE
- Portland, OR
- Pittsburgh, PA
- (2 payroll analyst jobs)
- (3 payroll analyst jobs)
- (20 payroll analyst jobs)
- (5 payroll analyst jobs)
- (8 payroll analyst jobs)
- (6 payroll analyst jobs)
- (22 payroll analyst jobs)
- (5 payroll analyst jobs)
- (12 payroll analyst jobs)
- (9 payroll analyst jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a payroll analyst
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reno, NV | $59,105 | $40,000 | 245,255 | 2 |
| 2 | Lincoln, NE | $59,556 | $43,000 | 280,364 | 3 |
| 3 | Minneapolis, MN | $56,607 | $40,000 | 413,651 | 20 |
| 4 | Milwaukee, WI | $57,562 | $40,000 | 595,047 | 5 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $56,173 | $39,000 | 632,912 | 8 |
| 6 | Saint Paul, MN | $56,622 | $40,000 | 302,398 | 6 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $62,470 | $43,000 | 673,184 | 22 |
| 8 | Omaha, NE | $59,798 | $43,000 | 446,970 | 5 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $57,960 | $41,000 | 639,863 | 12 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh, PA | $51,916 | $36,000 | 303,625 | 9 |
| 11 | Louisville, KY | $50,282 | $35,000 | 597,337 | 8 |
| 12 | Austin, TX | $52,883 | $37,000 | 947,890 | 20 |
| 13 | Lubbock, TX | $54,238 | $38,000 | 252,506 | 1 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $60,779 | $43,000 | 2,704,958 | 16 |
| 15 | Irving, TX | $52,967 | $37,000 | 238,289 | 10 |
| 16 | Stockton, CA | $62,460 | $42,000 | 307,072 | 4 |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $54,650 | $37,000 | 1,567,872 | 5 |
| 18 | Sacramento, CA | $62,634 | $43,000 | 495,234 | 15 |
| 19 | Denver, CO | $58,190 | $42,000 | 693,060 | 28 |
| 20 | Madison, WI | $56,897 | $40,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 21 | Jersey City, NJ | $64,756 | $44,000 | 264,152 | 4 |
| 22 | Detroit, MI | $53,884 | $37,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 23 | San Antonio, TX | $52,909 | $37,000 | 1,492,510 | 5 |
| 24 | Houston, TX | $52,562 | $37,000 | 2,303,482 | 26 |
| 25 | Plano, TX | $52,873 | $37,000 | 286,057 | 6 |
| 26 | Seattle, WA | $66,329 | $47,000 | 704,352 | 7 |
| 27 | Dallas, TX | $52,926 | $37,000 | 1,317,929 | 8 |
| 28 | Anchorage, AK | $61,626 | $51,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 29 | North Las Vegas, NV | $56,131 | $39,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 30 | Cleveland, OH | $52,076 | $36,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 31 | Newark, NJ | $64,745 | $44,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 32 | Buffalo, NY | $57,921 | $40,000 | 256,902 | 3 |
| 33 | Henderson, NV | $55,928 | $39,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 34 | Bakersfield, CA | $60,043 | $41,000 | 376,380 | 3 |
| 35 | Riverside, CA | $58,041 | $41,000 | 324,722 | 18 |
| 36 | Wichita, KS | $54,197 | $39,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 37 | Fort Wayne, IN | $51,737 | $36,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 38 | San Francisco, CA | $62,695 | $43,000 | 870,887 | 21 |
| 39 | Fort Worth, TX | $53,067 | $37,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 40 | El Paso, TX | $54,652 | $39,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 41 | Arlington, TX | $53,005 | $37,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 42 | Toledo, OH | $51,117 | $35,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 43 | Oakland, CA | $62,638 | $43,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 44 | Winston-Salem, NC | $46,018 | $32,000 | 242,203 | 4 |
| 45 | Irvine, CA | $57,941 | $41,000 | 266,122 | 20 |
| 46 | Atlanta, GA | $51,486 | $36,000 | 472,522 | 19 |
| 47 | Greensboro, NC | $46,147 | $32,000 | 287,027 | 5 |
| 48 | Garland, TX | $52,868 | $37,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 49 | Indianapolis, IN | $49,975 | $35,000 | 855,164 | 6 |
| 50 | Laredo, TX | $52,635 | $37,000 | 257,156 | - |
Highest paying cities for payroll analysts
| Rank | City | Avg. payroll analyst salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olympia, WA | $66,081 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $64,156 |
| 3 | Juneau, AK | $63,896 |
| 4 | Santa Rosa, CA | $62,934 |
| 5 | Andover, MA | $62,476 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $60,779 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $58,190 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $57,999 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $57,960 |
| 10 | Minneapolis, MN | $56,607 |
| 11 | Rockville, MD | $56,542 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $56,173 |
| 13 | Richmond, VA | $54,940 |
| 14 | Overland Park, KS | $54,772 |
| 15 | Philadelphia, PA | $54,650 |
| 16 | Irving, TX | $52,967 |
| 17 | Portland, ME | $52,283 |
| 18 | Alpharetta, GA | $51,670 |
| 19 | Phoenix, AZ | $50,820 |
| 20 | Des Moines, IA | $50,348 |
Payroll analyst best cities FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common office and administrative questions.
Search for payroll analyst jobs
Updated January 8, 2025