Best cities for a payroll and benefits specialist
The best cities for payroll and benefits specialists are Pittsburgh, PA, Saint Paul, MN, and Minneapolis, MN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for payroll and benefits specialists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for payroll and benefits specialists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a payroll and benefits specialist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for payroll and benefits specialists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for payroll and benefits specialists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a payroll and benefits specialist. While the absolute best city for payroll and benefits specialists is Pittsburgh, PA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for payroll and benefits specialists in 2024.
If you're looking for a payroll and benefits specialist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for payroll and benefits specialists in 2025
1. Pittsburgh, PA
Total payroll and benefits specialist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $48,076 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location quotient: 3.02 2. Saint Paul, MN
Total payroll and benefits specialist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $50,617 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location quotient: 4.76 3. Minneapolis, MN
Total payroll and benefits specialist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $50,593 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Location quotient: 3.64 4. Fresno, CA
Total payroll and benefits specialist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $58,797 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location quotient: 16.32 5. Detroit, MI
Total payroll and benefits specialist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $46,670 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Jersey City, NJ
Total payroll and benefits specialist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $59,698 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Chicago, IL
Total payroll and benefits specialist jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $52,179 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location quotient: 0.46 8. Newark, NJ
Total payroll and benefits specialist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $59,647 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Philadelphia, PA
Total payroll and benefits specialist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $51,004 Lowest 10 percent warn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Reno, NV
Total payroll and benefits specialist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $47,945 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location quotient: 0.00
Choose from 10+ customizable payroll and benefits specialist resume templates
Choose from a variety of easy-to-use payroll and benefits specialist 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 and benefits specialist resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Best cities for payroll and benefits specialists
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Saint Paul, MN
- Minneapolis, MN
- Fresno, CA
- Detroit, MI
- Jersey City, NJ
- Chicago, IL
- Newark, NJ
- Philadelphia, PA
- Reno, NV
- (2 payroll and benefits specialist jobs)
- (2 payroll and benefits specialist jobs)
- (3 payroll and benefits specialist jobs)
- (2 payroll and benefits specialist jobs)
- (0 payroll and benefits specialist jobs)
- (0 payroll and benefits specialist jobs)
- (1 payroll and benefits specialist jobs)
- (0 payroll and benefits specialist jobs)
- (0 payroll and benefits specialist jobs)
- (0 payroll and benefits specialist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a payroll and benefits specialist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsburgh, PA | $48,076 | $34,000 | 303,625 | 2 |
| 2 | Saint Paul, MN | $50,617 | $38,000 | 302,398 | 2 |
| 3 | Minneapolis, MN | $50,593 | $38,000 | 413,651 | 3 |
| 4 | Fresno, CA | $58,797 | $41,000 | 522,053 | 2 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $46,670 | $34,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 6 | Jersey City, NJ | $59,698 | $42,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $52,179 | $38,000 | 2,704,958 | 1 |
| 8 | Newark, NJ | $59,647 | $42,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $51,004 | $35,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 10 | Reno, NV | $47,945 | $34,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 11 | San Francisco, CA | $59,489 | $42,000 | 870,887 | 3 |
| 12 | Los Angeles, CA | $57,740 | $41,000 | 3,976,322 | 12 |
| 13 | Islip, NY | $56,618 | $40,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 14 | Las Vegas, NV | $47,343 | $34,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 15 | Sacramento, CA | $58,836 | $42,000 | 495,234 | 1 |
| 16 | Hempstead, NY | $56,570 | $39,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 17 | El Paso, TX | $47,537 | $34,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 18 | Brookhaven, NY | $56,549 | $40,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 19 | New York, NY | $56,456 | $39,000 | 8,537,673 | 5 |
| 20 | North Las Vegas, NV | $47,264 | $34,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 21 | Raleigh, NC | $46,541 | $33,000 | 458,880 | 2 |
| 22 | San Jose, CA | $59,428 | $42,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 23 | Oyster Bay, NY | $56,477 | $39,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 24 | Henderson, NV | $47,231 | $34,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 25 | Oakland, CA | $59,418 | $42,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 26 | Fremont, CA | $59,399 | $42,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 27 | Stockton, CA | $59,031 | $42,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 28 | Anchorage, AK | $51,930 | $46,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 29 | Lubbock, TX | $46,906 | $34,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 30 | Austin, TX | $46,696 | $34,000 | 947,890 | 2 |
| 31 | Bakersfield, CA | $58,537 | $41,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 32 | San Antonio, TX | $46,678 | $34,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 33 | Boston, MA | $52,503 | $38,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 34 | Durham, NC | $46,584 | $33,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 35 | Fort Worth, TX | $46,498 | $34,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 36 | Arlington, TX | $46,484 | $34,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 37 | Greensboro, NC | $46,266 | $33,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 38 | Houston, TX | $46,475 | $34,000 | 2,303,482 | - |
| 39 | Irving, TX | $46,449 | $34,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 40 | Winston-Salem, NC | $46,112 | $33,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 41 | Dallas, TX | $46,447 | $34,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 42 | Long Beach, CA | $57,492 | $41,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 43 | San Diego, CA | $56,454 | $41,000 | 1,406,630 | 6 |
| 44 | Garland, TX | $46,404 | $34,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 45 | Anaheim, CA | $57,401 | $41,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 46 | Plano, TX | $46,385 | $34,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 47 | Colorado Springs, CO | $50,748 | $38,000 | 465,101 | 2 |
| 48 | Santa Ana, CA | $57,324 | $41,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 49 | Irvine, CA | $57,235 | $41,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 50 | Seattle, WA | $51,250 | $40,000 | 704,352 | 6 |
Highest paying cities for payroll and benefits specialists
| Rank | City | Avg. payroll and benefits specialist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $59,489 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $56,456 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $55,342 |
| 4 | West Springfield Town, MA | $53,073 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $52,179 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $51,250 |
| 7 | Colorado Springs, CO | $50,748 |
| 8 | Bethesda, MD | $50,379 |
| 9 | Enfield, CT | $49,713 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh, PA | $48,076 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $46,696 |
| 12 | Battle Creek, MI | $46,025 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $45,492 |
| 14 | Charlotte, NC | $45,460 |
| 15 | Lenexa, KS | $44,284 |
| 16 | Columbia, MO | $43,635 |
| 17 | Milwaukee, WI | $41,003 |
| 18 | Birmingham, AL | $39,915 |
| 19 | Fort Wayne, IN | $39,807 |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $39,295 |











