Payroll auditor vs payroll specialist

The differences between payroll auditors and payroll specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a payroll specialist has an average salary of $46,462, which is higher than the $45,159 average annual salary of a payroll auditor.

The top three skills for a payroll auditor include audit payroll, payroll data and payroll processing. The most important skills for a payroll specialist are customer service, data entry, and payroll data.

Payroll auditor vs payroll specialist overview

	Payroll Auditor	Payroll Specialist
Yearly salary	$45,159	$46,462
Hourly rate	$21.71	$22.34
Growth rate	6%	-3%
Number of jobs	23,534	6,609
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Average age	44	48
Years of experience	-	4

Payroll auditor vs payroll specialist salary

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

	Payroll Auditor	Payroll Specialist
Average salary	$45,159	$46,462
Salary range	Between $33,000 And $60,000	Between $34,000 And $61,000
Highest paying City	-	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	-	Connecticut
Best paying company	-	Cambridge Associates
Best paying industry	-	Technology

Differences between payroll auditor and payroll specialist education

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

	Payroll Auditor	Payroll Specialist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Most common major	Accounting	Business
Most common college	University of Southern California	University of Pennsylvania

Payroll auditor vs payroll specialist demographics

Here are the differences between payroll auditors' and payroll specialists' demographics:

	Payroll Auditor	Payroll Specialist
Average age	44	48
Gender ratio	Male, 33.8% Female, 66.2%	Male, 17.3% Female, 82.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 12.2% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 6.0% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage	7%	10%

Differences between payroll auditor and payroll specialist duties and responsibilities

Payroll auditor example responsibilities.

Manage PTO and cafeteria benefits program.
Work with Kronos then go to eTime.
Utilize ADP contacts to ensure that proper tax and government data is up to date.
Audit pay information and import into ADP, resolving payroll discrepancies by collecting and analyzing information.
Work closely with internal and external auditors to assess and improve existing audit procedures and SOX compliance.
Reconcile managers and timekeepers entries within Kronos.

Payroll specialist example responsibilities.

Manage a bi-weekly payroll in accordance with establish processes, including auditing timekeeping records for compliance with establish standards and policies.
Handle all FMLA, insurance, employee benefits and processing the payroll on bi-weekly bases through the KRONOS timekeeping system.
Utilize KRONOS for timekeeping and to administer security access.
Prepare payroll journal entry and provide guidance in general ledger reconciliations pertaining to payroll general ledger accounts and labor expense distribution
Establish new hires in the KRONOS timekeeping system and provide guidance and assistance to associates to communicate their responsibilities regarding payroll/timekeeping.
Input employee data into Lawson payroll program while using the utmost integrity to keep information confidential.

Payroll auditor vs payroll specialist skills

Common payroll auditor skills

Audit Payroll, 29%
Payroll Data, 8%
Payroll Processing, 5%
Financial Statements, 4%
Audit Reports, 4%
Payroll System, 4%

Common payroll specialist skills

Customer Service, 13%
Data Entry, 7%
Payroll Data, 5%
Human Resources, 4%
ADP Workforce, 4%
Kronos, 3%

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Payroll Auditor
Payroll Auditor vs Payroll Specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

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