Payroll & human resources assistant vs payroll processor

The differences between payroll & human resources assistants and payroll processors 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 & human resources assistant and a payroll processor. Additionally, a payroll processor has an average salary of $44,307, which is higher than the $41,680 average annual salary of a payroll & human resources assistant.

The top three skills for a payroll & human resources assistant include data entry, assist human resources and background checks. The most important skills for a payroll processor are customer service, data entry, and ADP.

Payroll & human resources assistant vs payroll processor overview

	Payroll & Human Resources Assistant	Payroll Processor
Yearly salary	$41,680	$44,307
Hourly rate	$20.04	$21.30
Growth rate	-3%	-3%
Number of jobs	45,318	11,795
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 44%	Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age	48	48
Years of experience	4	4

What does a payroll & human resources assistant do?

The main duty of a Payroll & Human Resources Assistant is to provide payroll information through collecting time and attendance records. They also answer questions regarding examinations, eligibility, salaries, benefits, and other important information.

What does a payroll processor do?

A payroll processor is an individual who processes the payroll of employees for an organization by validating work hours and attendance of employees. Payroll processors must research for discrepancies in payroll information and documentation before processing them, as well as calculate payroll deductions. They assist payroll processing clerks and other team members with all the processes that are related to payroll. The payroll processor must also edit payroll worksheets for the data entry department as well as audit bonus payments for reporting.

Payroll & human resources assistant vs payroll processor salary

Payroll & human resources assistants and payroll processors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Payroll & Human Resources Assistant	Payroll Processor
Average salary	$41,680	$44,307
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $59,000	Between $33,000 And $58,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	New York	New Jersey
Best paying company	Compunetix	Venable
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Finance

Differences between payroll & human resources assistant and payroll processor education

There are a few differences between a payroll & human resources assistant and a payroll processor in terms of educational background:

	Payroll & Human Resources Assistant	Payroll Processor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 44%	Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Payroll & human resources assistant vs payroll processor demographics

Here are the differences between payroll & human resources assistants' and payroll processors' demographics:

	Payroll & Human Resources Assistant	Payroll Processor
Average age	48	48
Gender ratio	Male, 10.3% Female, 89.7%	Male, 16.1% Female, 83.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 6.2% White, 58.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 6.0% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage	10%	10%

Differences between payroll & human resources assistant and payroll processor duties and responsibilities

Payroll & human resources assistant example responsibilities.

Manage and track PTO eligibility.
Manage new employee orientation training, including e-verify.
Update HRIS system with election updates, notify carriers of changes and perform reconciliation of payroll deductions with vendor invoices.
Streamline and update payroll processes and procedures in addition to implementing new time and attendance systems, HRIS and record keeping.
Work on Microsoft outlook, word, excel, KRONOS timekeeper and other programs on AS400.
Maintain attendance tracking system by recording employee tardy/absentee information, vacation hours earn and used, and FMLA time used.

Payroll processor example responsibilities.

Manage PTO and cafeteria benefits program.
Assist KRONOS editors as need in the KRONOS timekeeping system.
Input, verify and correct time records using the KRONOS and Lawson software.
Test new software upgrades to payroll HRIS system before implementing to payroll team.
Process, balance and facilitate the transmission of incoming and outgoing ACH files.
Input hours into PeopleSoft and balance batches for assign pay groups according to establish schedule.

Payroll & human resources assistant vs payroll processor skills

Common payroll & human resources assistant skills

Data Entry, 6%
Assist Human Resources, 6%
Background Checks, 6%
ADP Payroll, 5%
Payroll Processing, 5%
Payroll System, 5%

Common payroll processor skills

Customer Service, 12%
Data Entry, 9%
ADP, 5%
Payroll System, 5%
Kronos, 5%
Human Resources, 4%

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Payroll & Human Resources Assistant
Payroll & Human Resources Assistant vs Payroll Processor

Updated January 8, 2025

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