Payroll assistant vs senior payroll specialist

The differences between payroll assistants and senior 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 payroll assistant and a senior payroll specialist. Additionally, a senior payroll specialist has an average salary of $59,503, which is higher than the $45,023 average annual salary of a payroll assistant.

The top three skills for a payroll assistant include data entry, payroll system and payroll data. The most important skills for a senior payroll specialist are peoplesoft, payroll data, and reconciliations.

Payroll assistant vs senior payroll specialist overview

	Payroll Assistant	Senior Payroll Specialist
Yearly salary	$45,023	$59,503
Hourly rate	$21.65	$28.61
Growth rate	-3%	-3%
Number of jobs	7,063	6,310
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 48%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Average age	48	48
Years of experience	4	4

What does a payroll assistant do?

A payroll assistant is primarily in charge of performing support tasks to help payroll managers maintain smooth workflow operations. Their duties entail maintaining databases, entering relevant data into systems, coordinating with different departments, handling tax forms and other paperwork, establishing schedules, processing deductions, and preparing regular reports. They may also manage calls and other forms of correspondence, perform research and assessments, keep records, and run errands as necessary. Additionally, a payroll assistant must maintain an open communication line with fellow staff and managers to solve potential or existing issues.

What does a senior payroll specialist do?

Senior payroll specialists are professionals who are responsible for calculating the wages of employees of an organization accurately. These specialists are required to analyze and verify payroll reports and documents for accuracy while making the necessary corrections through journal entries or other established procedures. They must authorize and review payroll transactions as well as complete appropriate forms to adjust salary account funds. Senior payroll specialists must also conduct training sessions for other payroll professionals to explain information regarding payroll policies and procedures.

Payroll assistant vs senior payroll specialist salary

Payroll assistants and senior payroll specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Payroll Assistant	Senior Payroll Specialist
Average salary	$45,023	$59,503
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $65,000	Between $42,000 And $82,000
Highest paying City	Riverhead, NY	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	New York	New Jersey
Best paying company	Sidley Austin	MongoDB
Best paying industry	Construction	Technology

Differences between payroll assistant and senior payroll specialist education

There are a few differences between a payroll assistant and a senior payroll specialist in terms of educational background:

	Payroll Assistant	Senior Payroll Specialist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 48%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Payroll assistant vs senior payroll specialist demographics

Here are the differences between payroll assistants' and senior payroll specialists' demographics:

	Payroll Assistant	Senior Payroll Specialist
Average age	48	48
Gender ratio	Male, 16.0% Female, 84.0%	Male, 23.2% Female, 76.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 6.1% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%	Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 6.0% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage	10%	10%

Differences between payroll assistant and senior payroll specialist duties and responsibilities

Payroll assistant example responsibilities.

Enter and update new employees into the timekeeping system KRONOS.
Perform payroll functions such as timekeeping and vacation days and submit to payroll.
Assist with the payroll process, time cards input and personal time off (PTO).
Prepare and input both weekly and biweekly payroll information using ADP software, ensuring information receive and transmit is accurate.
Process employee terminations including final pay calculations, PTO payment, deductions, and ensure payment meets state final pay requirements.
Maintain accurate records in PeopleSoft.

Senior payroll specialist example responsibilities.

Manage payroll imports into and out of HRIS, including master file and pay data additions and changes.
Update the maintenance of all job-relate records in the KRONOS timekeeping system, for all employees.
Perform thorough analysis of UltiPro timekeeping system prior to uploading to the payroll system on a biweekly basis.
Process payroll using ADP/ KRONOS for multiple companies.
Load pay changes for pay period into UltiPro.
Process regular wages, overtime wages, PTO, tips and toke incomes, etc.

Payroll assistant vs senior payroll specialist skills

Common payroll assistant skills

Data Entry, 16%
Payroll System, 7%
Payroll Data, 6%
Human Resources, 5%
ADP, 5%
Payroll Checks, 4%

Common senior payroll specialist skills

PeopleSoft, 15%
Payroll Data, 5%
Reconciliations, 4%
HRIS, 4%
ADP Workforce, 3%
Data Entry, 3%

Payroll Assistant vs. similar jobs

Payroll Assistant related careers

Payroll Assistant related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Office and Administrative Industry
Payroll Assistant
Payroll Assistant vs Senior Payroll Specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse office and administrative jobs