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Payroll secretary vs payroll administrator

The differences between payroll secretaries and payroll administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a payroll secretary, becoming a payroll administrator takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a payroll secretary has an average salary of $52,677, which is higher than the $46,596 average annual salary of a payroll administrator.

The top three skills for a payroll secretary include purchase orders, payroll system and office equipment. The most important skills for a payroll administrator are customer service, data entry, and payroll system.

Payroll secretary vs payroll administrator overview

Payroll SecretaryPayroll Administrator
Yearly salary$52,677$46,596
Hourly rate$25.33$22.40
Growth rate-8%-3%
Number of jobs12,54355,490
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Average age5048
Years of experience24

Payroll secretary vs payroll administrator salary

Payroll secretaries and payroll administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Payroll SecretaryPayroll Administrator
Average salary$52,677$46,596
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $69,000Between $33,000 And $64,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-Maine
Best paying company-Northern Trust
Best paying industry-Construction

Differences between payroll secretary and payroll administrator education

There are a few differences between a payroll secretary and a payroll administrator in terms of educational background:

Payroll SecretaryPayroll Administrator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Payroll secretary vs payroll administrator demographics

Here are the differences between payroll secretaries' and payroll administrators' demographics:

Payroll SecretaryPayroll Administrator
Average age5048
Gender ratioMale, 5.9% Female, 94.1%Male, 16.0% Female, 84.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 3.8% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.1% Asian, 6.2% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage6%10%

Differences between payroll secretary and payroll administrator duties and responsibilities

Payroll secretary example responsibilities.

  • Lead DoD team that assist Pakistan in gaining military capabilities to conduct counter-terrorism operations against the Taliban.
  • Answer phones, work in Quickbooks to invoice, enter bills, generate computer checks and payroll.
  • Prepare discharges, enter all updates into OASAS system and review patient information to verify patients eligibility to receive transportation reimbursement.
  • Compile and summarize responses to subpoenas.

Payroll administrator example responsibilities.

  • Manage year-end W2 audit/corrections and distribution.
  • Manage employee direct deposit accounts and initiate ACH reversals when necessary.
  • Manage all requisitions using PeopleSoft for the administrator and all assign departments.
  • Maintain KRONOS timekeeping system, review, sort and distribute employee upload file and multiple misc.
  • Maintain and monitor PTO balances and provide executive reports relate to vacation accruals.
  • Assist in implementing and training of MyTime and Lawson systems.
    • Show more

Payroll secretary vs payroll administrator skills

Common payroll secretary skills
  • Purchase Orders, 13%
  • Payroll System, 8%
  • Office Equipment, 7%
  • Scheduling Appointments, 6%
  • QuickBooks, 6%
  • Payroll Data, 6%
Common payroll administrator skills
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Data Entry, 7%
  • Payroll System, 6%
  • Human Resources, 5%
  • Payroll Data, 4%
  • Process Payroll, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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