Best cities for a payroll manager
The best cities for payroll managers are Oakland, CA, Fremont, CA, and San Francisco, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for payroll managers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for payroll managers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a payroll manager or considering a move, this list of the best cities for payroll managers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for payroll managers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a payroll manager. While the absolute best city for payroll managers is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for payroll managers in 2024.
If you're looking for a payroll manager job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for payroll managers in 2026
1. Oakland, CA
Total payroll manager jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $119,932 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location quotient: 3.53 2. Fremont, CA
Total payroll manager jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $119,768 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location quotient: 2.51 3. San Francisco, CA
Total payroll manager jobs: 37 Average annual salary: $120,152 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location quotient: 1.56 4. Reno, NV
Total payroll manager jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $94,570 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 1.68 5. Los Angeles, CA
Total payroll manager jobs: 42 Average annual salary: $111,282 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location quotient: 2.06 6. Las Vegas, NV
Total payroll manager jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $91,754 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 1.43 7. Riverside, CA
Total payroll manager jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $109,596 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location quotient: 1.41 8. San Jose, CA
Total payroll manager jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $119,642 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location quotient: 1.01 9. Mesa, AZ
Total payroll manager jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $85,071 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location quotient: 4.47 10. Gilbert, AZ
Total payroll manager jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $85,070 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location quotient: 6.97
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Best cities for payroll managers
- Oakland, CA
- Fremont, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Reno, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Riverside, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Mesa, AZ
- Gilbert, AZ
- (8 payroll manager jobs)
- (12 payroll manager jobs)
- (37 payroll manager jobs)
- (3 payroll manager jobs)
- (42 payroll manager jobs)
- (8 payroll manager jobs)
- (2 payroll manager jobs)
- (17 payroll manager jobs)
- (5 payroll manager jobs)
- (4 payroll manager jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a payroll manager
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $119,932 | $85,000 | 420,005 | 8 |
| 2 | Fremont, CA | $119,768 | $85,000 | 233,136 | 12 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $120,152 | $85,000 | 870,887 | 37 |
| 4 | Reno, NV | $94,570 | $67,000 | 245,255 | 3 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $111,282 | $79,000 | 3,976,322 | 42 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $91,754 | $65,000 | 632,912 | 8 |
| 7 | Riverside, CA | $109,596 | $78,000 | 324,722 | 2 |
| 8 | San Jose, CA | $119,642 | $84,000 | 1,025,350 | 17 |
| 9 | Mesa, AZ | $85,071 | $61,000 | 484,587 | 5 |
| 10 | Gilbert, AZ | $85,070 | $61,000 | 237,133 | 4 |
| 11 | Scottsdale, AZ | $85,209 | $61,000 | 246,645 | 5 |
| 12 | San Diego, CA | $107,077 | $76,000 | 1,406,630 | 15 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $82,604 | $60,000 | 458,880 | 6 |
| 14 | Sacramento, CA | $118,007 | $83,000 | 495,234 | 3 |
| 15 | Long Beach, CA | $110,319 | $78,000 | 470,130 | 1 |
| 16 | Anchorage, AK | $88,188 | $71,000 | 298,192 | 3 |
| 17 | San Antonio, TX | $85,067 | $59,000 | 1,492,510 | 5 |
| 18 | Boston, MA | $89,325 | $64,000 | 673,184 | 35 |
| 19 | Fort Worth, TX | $83,713 | $60,000 | 854,113 | 3 |
| 20 | Denver, CO | $86,731 | $64,000 | 693,060 | 69 |
| 21 | Phoenix, AZ | $85,321 | $61,000 | 1,615,017 | 15 |
| 22 | Austin, TX | $84,819 | $59,000 | 947,890 | 11 |
| 23 | Houston, TX | $83,902 | $58,000 | 2,303,482 | 23 |
| 24 | Dallas, TX | $83,381 | $60,000 | 1,317,929 | 14 |
| 25 | Cleveland, OH | $76,173 | $55,000 | 385,809 | 6 |
| 26 | Stockton, CA | $118,735 | $84,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 27 | North Las Vegas, NV | $91,584 | $64,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 28 | Irvine, CA | $109,495 | $78,000 | 266,122 | 3 |
| 29 | Henderson, NV | $91,311 | $64,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 30 | Chicago, IL | $85,059 | $62,000 | 2,704,958 | 38 |
| 31 | Saint Paul, MN | $83,398 | $62,000 | 302,398 | 7 |
| 32 | Fresno, CA | $117,026 | $82,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 33 | El Paso, TX | $89,544 | $64,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 34 | Bakersfield, CA | $115,049 | $81,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 35 | Milwaukee, WI | $81,433 | $60,000 | 595,047 | 2 |
| 36 | Seattle, WA | $94,985 | $69,000 | 704,352 | 11 |
| 37 | Anaheim, CA | $110,095 | $78,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 38 | Santa Ana, CA | $109,798 | $78,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 39 | Portland, OR | $83,090 | $60,000 | 639,863 | 11 |
| 40 | Wichita, KS | $84,606 | $63,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 41 | Irving, TX | $83,422 | $60,000 | 238,289 | 5 |
| 42 | Madison, WI | $81,083 | $60,000 | 252,551 | 1 |
| 43 | Lubbock, TX | $86,404 | $62,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 44 | Durham, NC | $82,510 | $60,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 45 | Cincinnati, OH | $74,446 | $54,000 | 298,800 | 7 |
| 46 | Chula Vista, CA | $106,848 | $76,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 47 | Arlington, TX | $83,601 | $60,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 48 | Virginia Beach, VA | $81,405 | $59,000 | 452,602 | 3 |
| 49 | Laredo, TX | $84,606 | $58,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 50 | Indianapolis, IN | $77,537 | $57,000 | 855,164 | 8 |
Highest paying cities for payroll managers
| Rank | City | Avg. payroll manager salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $120,152 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $94,985 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $94,961 |
| 4 | Salt Lake City, UT | $94,702 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $89,325 |
| 6 | Stamford, CT | $87,255 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $87,101 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $86,731 |
| 9 | Phoenix, AZ | $85,321 |
| 10 | San Antonio, TX | $85,067 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $85,059 |
| 12 | Manchester, NH | $83,690 |
| 13 | Saint Paul, MN | $83,398 |
| 14 | Portland, OR | $83,090 |
| 15 | Raleigh, NC | $82,604 |
| 16 | Arlington, VA | $81,005 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $80,191 |
| 18 | Detroit, MI | $79,954 |
| 19 | Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ | $78,454 |
| 20 | Indianapolis, IN | $77,537 |
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Updated January 8, 2025