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The differences between payroll managers and payroll assistants 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 manager and a payroll assistant. Additionally, a payroll manager has an average salary of $86,147, which is higher than the $45,023 average annual salary of a payroll assistant.
The top three skills for a payroll manager include customer service, human resources and payroll system. The most important skills for a payroll assistant are data entry, payroll system, and payroll data.
| Payroll Manager | Payroll Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $86,147 | $45,023 |
| Hourly rate | $41.42 | $21.65 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 6,972 | 7,063 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A payroll manager is responsible for monitoring the payment process of all employees. Payroll managers oversee payroll records, reviewing calculable taxes and other deductions, creating a comprehensive summary of payroll details, managing payroll discrepancies, and releasing payroll checks through the organization's payment method. They must also follow strict procedures on legal requirements and tax obligations. A payroll manager must have excellent analytical and communication skills, especially on responding to the employees' inquiries and concerns, as well as managing the performance of the payroll staff.
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.
Payroll managers and payroll assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Payroll Manager | Payroll Assistant | |
| Average salary | $86,147 | $45,023 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $117,000 | Between $31,000 And $65,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Riverhead, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | Ep Energy | Sidley Austin |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Construction |
There are a few differences between a payroll manager and a payroll assistant in terms of educational background:
| Payroll Manager | Payroll Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between payroll managers' and payroll assistants' demographics:
| Payroll Manager | Payroll Assistant | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 22.0% Female, 78.0% | Male, 16.0% Female, 84.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.1% White, 57.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |