Payroll master vs senior payroll specialist

The differences between payroll masters and senior payroll specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a payroll master, becoming a senior payroll specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a payroll master has an average salary of $62,794, which is higher than the $59,503 average annual salary of a senior payroll specialist.

The top three skills for a payroll master include payroll system, and . The most important skills for a senior payroll specialist are peoplesoft, payroll data, and reconciliations.

Payroll master vs senior payroll specialist overview

	Payroll Master	Senior Payroll Specialist
Yearly salary	$62,794	$59,503
Hourly rate	$30.19	$28.61
Growth rate	-3%	-3%
Number of jobs	14,187	6,310
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 50%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Average age	47	48
Years of experience	6	4

Payroll master vs senior payroll specialist salary

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

	Payroll Master	Senior Payroll Specialist
Average salary	$62,794	$59,503
Salary range	Between $45,000 And $87,000	Between $42,000 And $82,000
Highest paying City	-	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	-	New Jersey
Best paying company	-	MongoDB
Best paying industry	-	Technology

Differences between payroll master and senior payroll specialist education

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

	Payroll Master	Senior Payroll Specialist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 50%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Payroll master vs senior payroll specialist demographics

Here are the differences between payroll masters' and senior payroll specialists' demographics:

	Payroll Master	Senior Payroll Specialist
Average age	47	48
Gender ratio	Male, 30.0% Female, 70.0%	Male, 23.2% Female, 76.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 4.5% White, 69.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 6.0% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage	8%	10%

Differences between payroll master and senior payroll specialist duties and responsibilities

Payroll master example responsibilities.

Manage installation of automate timekeeping systems in facilities, ensuring accurate, timely processing of time and attendance information.
Manage installation of automate timekeeping systems in facilities, ensuring accurate, timely processing of time and attendance information.
Implement FSA benefit and establish new guidelines and relationships with third-party administrators.

Senior payroll specialist example responsibilities.

Manage payroll imports into and out of HRIS, including master file and pay data additions and changes.
Update the maintenance of all job-relate records in the KRONOS timekeeping system, for all employees.
Perform thorough analysis of UltiPro timekeeping system prior to uploading to the payroll system on a biweekly basis.
Process payroll using ADP/ KRONOS for multiple companies.
Load pay changes for pay period into UltiPro.
Process regular wages, overtime wages, PTO, tips and toke incomes, etc.

Payroll master vs senior payroll specialist skills

Common payroll master skills

Payroll System, 100%

Common senior payroll specialist skills

PeopleSoft, 15%
Payroll Data, 5%
Reconciliations, 4%
HRIS, 4%
ADP Workforce, 3%
Data Entry, 3%

Payroll Master vs. similar jobs

Payroll Master related careers

Payroll Master related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Office and Administrative Industry
Payroll Master
Payroll Master vs Senior Payroll Specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse office and administrative jobs