Best cities for a payroll specialist
The best cities for payroll specialists are Anchorage, AK, Oakland, CA, and Stockton, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for payroll specialists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for payroll specialists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a payroll specialist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for payroll specialists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for payroll specialists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a payroll specialist. While the absolute best city for payroll specialists is Anchorage, AK, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for payroll specialists in 2024.
If you're looking for a payroll specialist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for payroll specialists in 2025
1. Anchorage, AK
Payroll specialist jobs in AnchorageTotal payroll specialist jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $48,933 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location quotient: 5.15 2. Oakland, CA
Payroll specialist jobs in OaklandTotal payroll specialist jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $55,886 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location quotient: 3.46 3. Stockton, CA
Payroll specialist jobs in StocktonTotal payroll specialist jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $55,493 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location quotient: 6.86 4. Reno, NV
Payroll specialist jobs in RenoTotal payroll specialist jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $44,742 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location quotient: 2.31 5. Fresno, CA
Payroll specialist jobs in FresnoTotal payroll specialist jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $54,983 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location quotient: 5.91 6. Portland, OR
Payroll specialist jobs in PortlandTotal payroll specialist jobs: 43 Average annual salary: $49,069 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location quotient: 2.20 7. Buffalo, NY
Payroll specialist jobs in BuffaloTotal payroll specialist jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $52,789 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location quotient: 1.87 8. El Paso, TX
Payroll specialist jobs in El PasoTotal payroll specialist jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $45,601 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location quotient: 1.83 9. Denver, CO
Payroll specialist jobs in DenverTotal payroll specialist jobs: 103 Average annual salary: $49,885 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location quotient: 2.12 10. Omaha, NE
Payroll specialist jobs in OmahaTotal payroll specialist jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $43,636 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location quotient: 2.04
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Best cities for payroll specialists
- Anchorage, AK
- Oakland, CA
- Stockton, CA
- Reno, NV
- Fresno, CA
- Portland, OR
- Buffalo, NY
- El Paso, TX
- Denver, CO
- Omaha, NE
Detailed list of the best cities for a payroll specialist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage, AK | $48,933 | $43,000 | 298,192 | 15 |
| 2 | Oakland, CA | $55,886 | $41,000 | 420,005 | 19 |
| 3 | Stockton, CA | $55,493 | $40,000 | 307,072 | 14 |
| 4 | Reno, NV | $44,742 | $33,000 | 245,255 | 10 |
| 5 | Fresno, CA | $54,983 | $40,000 | 522,053 | 19 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $49,069 | $38,000 | 639,863 | 43 |
| 7 | Buffalo, NY | $52,789 | $38,000 | 256,902 | 11 |
| 8 | El Paso, TX | $45,601 | $34,000 | 683,080 | 6 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $49,885 | $38,000 | 693,060 | 103 |
| 10 | Omaha, NE | $43,636 | $33,000 | 446,970 | 25 |
| 11 | Seattle, WA | $54,115 | $42,000 | 704,352 | 54 |
| 12 | Gilbert, AZ | $44,967 | $33,000 | 237,133 | 6 |
| 13 | Sacramento, CA | $55,401 | $40,000 | 495,234 | 23 |
| 14 | Scottsdale, AZ | $45,068 | $33,000 | 246,645 | 14 |
| 15 | Las Vegas, NV | $43,839 | $32,000 | 632,912 | 30 |
| 16 | Boston, MA | $54,034 | $38,000 | 673,184 | 41 |
| 17 | Cleveland, OH | $44,384 | $32,000 | 385,809 | 6 |
| 18 | Madison, WI | $43,489 | $32,000 | 252,551 | 13 |
| 19 | Minneapolis, MN | $46,784 | $35,000 | 413,651 | 35 |
| 20 | Lincoln, NE | $43,526 | $33,000 | 280,364 | 11 |
| 21 | Columbus, OH | $42,782 | $31,000 | 860,090 | 28 |
| 22 | Bakersfield, CA | $54,465 | $40,000 | 376,380 | 6 |
| 23 | Philadelphia, PA | $46,652 | $33,000 | 1,567,872 | 18 |
| 24 | Saint Paul, MN | $46,792 | $35,000 | 302,398 | 17 |
| 25 | Milwaukee, WI | $43,775 | $32,000 | 595,047 | 11 |
| 26 | Anaheim, CA | $53,284 | $39,000 | 351,043 | 8 |
| 27 | Washington, DC | $57,820 | $41,000 | 681,170 | 53 |
| 28 | New York, NY | $55,123 | $39,000 | 8,537,673 | 107 |
| 29 | Chula Vista, CA | $52,497 | $39,000 | 267,172 | 3 |
| 30 | Chesapeake, VA | $44,619 | $32,000 | 237,940 | 13 |
| 31 | Santa Ana, CA | $53,219 | $39,000 | 334,217 | 7 |
| 32 | Cincinnati, OH | $42,076 | $31,000 | 298,800 | 13 |
| 33 | Toledo, OH | $43,527 | $31,000 | 278,508 | 2 |
| 34 | Jersey City, NJ | $56,076 | $40,000 | 264,152 | 6 |
| 35 | Tulsa, OK | $43,470 | $33,000 | 403,090 | 5 |
| 36 | Detroit, MI | $44,954 | $32,000 | 672,795 | 1 |
| 37 | Norfolk, VA | $44,818 | $32,000 | 245,115 | 14 |
| 38 | Wichita, KS | $44,412 | $33,000 | 389,902 | 2 |
| 39 | Newark, NJ | $56,020 | $40,000 | 281,764 | 1 |
| 40 | Phoenix, AZ | $45,102 | $33,000 | 1,615,017 | 44 |
| 41 | Brookhaven, NY | $55,651 | $39,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 42 | Chicago, IL | $49,662 | $37,000 | 2,704,958 | 44 |
| 43 | Henderson, NV | $43,769 | $32,000 | 292,969 | 2 |
| 44 | Islip, NY | $55,534 | $39,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 45 | Oyster Bay, NY | $55,384 | $39,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 46 | Los Angeles, CA | $53,554 | $39,000 | 3,976,322 | 93 |
| 47 | Tucson, AZ | $44,525 | $33,000 | 530,706 | 11 |
| 48 | Hempstead, NY | $55,301 | $39,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 49 | Virginia Beach, VA | $44,927 | $32,000 | 452,602 | 9 |
| 50 | Oklahoma City, OK | $43,268 | $33,000 | 638,367 | 11 |
Highest paying cities for payroll specialists
| Rank | City | Avg. payroll specialist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $57,820 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $55,963 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $55,123 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $54,115 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $54,034 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $50,878 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $49,885 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $49,662 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $49,069 |
| 10 | Saint Paul, MN | $46,792 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $46,652 |
| 12 | Reston, VA | $46,523 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $45,102 |
| 14 | Kansas City, KS | $44,942 |
| 15 | San Antonio, TX | $44,437 |
| 16 | Cleveland, OH | $44,384 |
| 17 | Portland, ME | $44,213 |
| 18 | Las Vegas, NV | $43,839 |
| 19 | Milwaukee, WI | $43,775 |
| 20 | Omaha, NE | $43,636 |
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Updated January 8, 2025