Best cities for a payroll associate
The best cities for payroll associates are Milwaukee, WI, Minneapolis, MN, and Saint Paul, MN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for payroll associates vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for payroll associates in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a payroll associate or considering a move, this list of the best cities for payroll associates to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for payroll associates. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a payroll associate. While the absolute best city for payroll associates is Milwaukee, WI, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for payroll associates in 2024.
If you're looking for a payroll associate job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for payroll associates in 2025
1. Milwaukee, WI
Total payroll associate jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $47,670 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location quotient: 3.16 2. Minneapolis, MN
Total payroll associate jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $51,269 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location quotient: 2.20 3. Saint Paul, MN
Total payroll associate jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $51,311 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location quotient: 2.16 4. Los Angeles, CA
Total payroll associate jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $56,535 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location quotient: 2.42 5. Riverside, CA
Total payroll associate jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $55,692 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location quotient: 45.13 6. Jersey City, NJ
Total payroll associate jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $58,354 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. San Francisco, CA
Total payroll associate jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $62,298 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Newark, NJ
Total payroll associate jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $58,280 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Oakland, CA
Total payroll associate jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $62,197 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Fremont, CA
Total payroll associate jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $61,993 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for payroll associates
- Milwaukee, WI
- Minneapolis, MN
- Saint Paul, MN
- Los Angeles, CA
- Riverside, CA
- Jersey City, NJ
- San Francisco, CA
- Newark, NJ
- Oakland, CA
- Fremont, CA
- (3 payroll associate jobs)
- (4 payroll associate jobs)
- (2 payroll associate jobs)
- (10 payroll associate jobs)
- (13 payroll associate jobs)
- (0 payroll associate jobs)
- (0 payroll associate jobs)
- (0 payroll associate jobs)
- (0 payroll associate jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a payroll associate
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milwaukee, WI | $47,670 | $32,000 | 595,047 | 3 |
| 2 | Minneapolis, MN | $51,269 | $36,000 | 413,651 | 4 |
| 3 | Saint Paul, MN | $51,311 | $36,000 | 302,398 | 2 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $56,535 | $37,000 | 3,976,322 | 10 |
| 5 | Riverside, CA | $55,692 | $37,000 | 324,722 | 13 |
| 6 | Jersey City, NJ | $58,354 | $36,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $62,298 | $40,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 8 | Newark, NJ | $58,280 | $36,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 9 | Oakland, CA | $62,197 | $40,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 10 | Fremont, CA | $61,993 | $40,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 11 | San Jose, CA | $61,841 | $40,000 | 1,025,350 | 2 |
| 12 | Reno, NV | $52,381 | $34,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 13 | Sacramento, CA | $61,925 | $40,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 14 | Stockton, CA | $61,791 | $40,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 15 | Las Vegas, NV | $49,107 | $32,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 16 | Louisville, KY | $41,441 | $27,000 | 597,337 | 2 |
| 17 | North Las Vegas, NV | $49,037 | $32,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 18 | Cleveland, OH | $43,136 | $27,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 19 | Irvine, CA | $55,476 | $37,000 | 266,122 | 3 |
| 20 | Henderson, NV | $48,873 | $32,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 21 | Seattle, WA | $53,024 | $37,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 22 | Madison, WI | $46,946 | $31,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 23 | Boston, MA | $51,883 | $32,000 | 673,184 | 2 |
| 24 | Toledo, OH | $42,090 | $27,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 25 | Fresno, CA | $60,526 | $39,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 26 | Bakersfield, CA | $58,992 | $39,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 27 | Wichita, KS | $44,310 | $31,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 28 | Detroit, MI | $42,387 | $27,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 29 | Indianapolis, IN | $41,444 | $27,000 | 855,164 | 2 |
| 30 | Long Beach, CA | $55,916 | $37,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 31 | Anaheim, CA | $55,850 | $37,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 32 | Lexington, KY | $41,573 | $27,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 33 | Anchorage, AK | $48,630 | $40,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 34 | Santa Ana, CA | $55,656 | $37,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 35 | Fort Wayne, IN | $43,361 | $28,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 36 | Brookhaven, NY | $51,525 | $32,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 37 | Islip, NY | $51,324 | $32,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 38 | Chicago, IL | $46,363 | $31,000 | 2,704,958 | 4 |
| 39 | Oyster Bay, NY | $51,170 | $31,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 40 | New York, NY | $50,768 | $31,000 | 8,537,673 | 13 |
| 41 | Austin, TX | $42,945 | $29,000 | 947,890 | 3 |
| 42 | Denver, CO | $46,498 | $33,000 | 693,060 | 14 |
| 43 | El Paso, TX | $43,831 | $30,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 44 | Columbus, OH | $40,471 | $26,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 45 | Hempstead, NY | $50,987 | $31,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 46 | Lubbock, TX | $43,228 | $29,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 47 | Buffalo, NY | $48,275 | $30,000 | 256,902 | 2 |
| 48 | San Antonio, TX | $43,082 | $29,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 49 | Tulsa, OK | $39,554 | $27,000 | 403,090 | 1 |
| 50 | Laredo, TX | $43,029 | $29,000 | 257,156 | - |
Highest paying cities for payroll associates
| Rank | City | Avg. payroll associate salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $62,298 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $53,930 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $53,024 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $51,883 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $51,269 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $50,768 |
| 7 | Milwaukee, WI | $47,670 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $46,498 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $46,363 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $42,945 |
| 11 | Richmond, VA | $42,313 |
| 12 | Indianapolis, IN | $41,444 |
| 13 | Hilliard, OH | $40,476 |
| 14 | Tempe, AZ | $39,173 |
| 15 | Saint Louis, MO | $38,061 |
| 16 | Pittsburgh, PA | $37,751 |
| 17 | Durham, NC | $37,564 |
| 18 | Tampa, FL | $36,447 |
| 19 | Bozeman, MT | $34,076 |
| 20 | Alpharetta, GA | $33,859 |
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Updated January 8, 2025