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How to hire a payroll and benefits coordinator

Payroll and benefits coordinator hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring payroll and benefits coordinators in the United States:

  • There are a total of 136,252 payroll and benefits coordinators in the US, and there are currently 29,242 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a payroll and benefits coordinator is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per payroll and benefits coordinator on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Fort Wayne, IN, has the highest demand for payroll and benefits coordinators, with 3 job openings.

How to hire a payroll and benefits coordinator, step by step

To hire a payroll and benefits coordinator, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a payroll and benefits coordinator, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step payroll and benefits coordinator hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a payroll and benefits coordinator job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new payroll and benefits coordinator
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a payroll and benefits coordinator, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect payroll and benefits coordinator also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    This list shows salaries for various types of payroll and benefits coordinators.

    Type of Payroll And Benefits CoordinatorDescriptionHourly rate
    Payroll And Benefits CoordinatorCompensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists conduct an organization’s compensation and benefits programs. They also evaluate position descriptions to determine details such as a person’s classification and salary.$16-28
    Compensation AnalystCompensation analysts are responsible for managing company compensation programs by evaluating and analyzing employees' salaries, assist the planning and development of a new and modified sales compensation plan, as well as managing sales compensation short-term incentive programs. The compensation programs are used to improve hiring and boost employee retention... Show more$23-43
    Human Resources TechnicianA human resources technician is primarily responsible for performing clerical support tasks in a human resources office. Their duty revolves around preparing and processing documentation, managing schedules, reviewing requirements and applications, participating in planning and executing HR projects and programs, and gathering information as necessary... Show more$13-27
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • HRIS
    • Human Resources
    • Open Enrollment
    • Payroll Processing
    • Data Entry
    • Cobra
    • Payroll System
    • FMLA
    • Payroll Data
    • Kronos
    • Benefits Administration
    • Accruals
    • Workers Compensation
    • Benefit Enrollments
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Create PowerPoint presentations for leadership meetings, manage spreadsheet databases, manage donation programs for RedCross and UnitedWay campaigns.
    • Key feed backs in the KRONOS time clock for miss punches.
    • Monitor and update employee PTO, leaves of absences, and federal postings.
    • Facilitate FMLA, as well as, other leaves as applicable to company policy and relevant laws.
    • Review company forms and create streamlined processes for filling out and inputting payroll/benefits information in the HRIS system.
    • Track 401k deductions, garnishments, insurance deductions, PTO balances and provide monthly analysis and balancing reports.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your payroll and benefits coordinator job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A payroll and benefits coordinator can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, payroll and benefits coordinators' average salary in south carolina is 51% less than in california.
    • Seniority. Entry-level payroll and benefits coordinators 43% less than senior-level payroll and benefits coordinators.
    • Certifications. A payroll and benefits coordinator with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a payroll and benefits coordinator's salary.

    Average payroll and benefits coordinator salary

    $45,858yearly

    $22.05 hourly rate

    Entry-level payroll and benefits coordinator salary
    $34,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 23, 2026
  4. Writing a payroll and benefits coordinator job description

    A payroll and benefits coordinator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a payroll and benefits coordinator job description:

    Payroll and benefits coordinator job description example

    • Maintain I9 forms.

    • Process and transmits Labor Management Report Daily.

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

    • Process paperwork for new employees and submit employee information to the payroll department within 24 hours of start date.

    • Ensure that all new hire paperwork is completed and returned in a timely manner Maintain employee personnel files.

    • Maintain and updates anniversary and birthday list.

    • Maintain union seniority list in facilities with bargaining units.

    • Provide information to employees and managers on payroll matters and benefit plans for which employees are eligible

    • Record employee information, such as exemptions, transfers, and resignations, to maintain and update payroll records in a timely manner.

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

    • Communicates with Workers’ Compensation insurance carrier regarding updates and status of incidents.

    • Maintain OHSA 200 log.

    • Process new employee criminal and OIG background checks.

    • Enter new employees and disable employees no longer working at the facility in the PCC system.

    • Perform accounts payable as required.

    • Present information on employee benefits and assist employee with completion of forms as needed during general orientation.

    • Administer employee insurance, pension and savings plans, working with insurance brokers and plan carriers while understanding the plans offered at facility.

    • Manage benefit enrollments, open enrollment, COBRA, employee termination paperwork, personnel changes, beneficiary information, and 401k benefits.

    • Respond to benefit inquiries from on-site and off-site employees regarding benefit questions and procedures.

    • Conduct Open Enrollment and ensure timely benefit changes.

    • Ensure timeliness and accuracy of benefit transactions and enrollments.

    • Investigates benefit and payroll issues and works with internal and external departments to ensure quick, equitable, courteous resolution.

    • Determine proper course of action to resolve customer service issues.

    • Follow plan procedures and policies. Refer escalated issues to Benefits Account Manager.

    • Other business office/HR functions as assigned.

    Required Experience:

    • Knowledge of office procedures, clerical and recordkeeping operations, and the use of various office machines.

    • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer service. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

    • Knowledge of pertinent Federal and State regulations affecting employee benefits programs including ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, Section 125 and other related employee benefits is required.

    • Knowledge of the confidential nature of the position

    • Knowledge of medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability and long-term disability insurance plans is required.

    • An understanding of FMLA and Military Leave is required.

    • An understanding of laws under Health Care Reform is a plus.

    • Knowledge of dependent eligibility audits, age limits and life insurance guarantee issue amounts is a plus.

    EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, and TRAINING

    • Computer literacy skills (Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Office, Internet)

    • Associate’s Degree, preferred.

    • One to three years of professional experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

    • Experience with Payroll and Benefit Administration for a minimum of 75 employees required

  5. Post your job

    To find the right payroll and benefits coordinator for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with payroll and benefits coordinators they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit payroll and benefits coordinators who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your payroll and benefits coordinator job on Zippia to find and recruit payroll and benefits coordinator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with payroll and benefits coordinator candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new payroll and benefits coordinator

    Once you've found the payroll and benefits coordinator candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    To prepare for the new payroll and benefits coordinator first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a payroll and benefits coordinator?

Recruiting payroll and benefits coordinators involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

Payroll and benefits coordinators earn a median yearly salary is $45,858 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find payroll and benefits coordinators for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $16 and $28.

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