Payroll specialist vs accountant

The differences between payroll specialists and accountants 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 specialist and an accountant. Additionally, an accountant has an average salary of $54,890, which is higher than the $46,462 average annual salary of a payroll specialist.

The top three skills for a payroll specialist include customer service, data entry and payroll data. The most important skills for an accountant are reconciliations, general ledger accounts, and account reconciliations.

Payroll specialist vs accountant overview

	Payroll Specialist	Accountant
Yearly salary	$46,462	$54,890
Hourly rate	$22.34	$26.39
Growth rate	-3%	6%
Number of jobs	6,609	60,073
Job satisfaction	-	3
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 48%	Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age	48	44
Years of experience	4	4

What does a payroll specialist do?

It is the primary duty of a payroll specialist to process payroll and maintain an accurate record of the personnel database and ensure employees are paid on time. Payroll specialists are in charge of addressing and resolving employee complaints regarding wages. Also, they manage the company's budget and expenses and prepare reports for the relevant departments. Those with a bachelor's degree in business or accounting are preferred to get the job. Candidates with related job experience and strong knowledge of tax, wage laws, and a good understanding of standard fiscal procedures are highly qualified for the position.

What does an accountant do?

An accountant is an individual whose primary task is to prepare, keep, examine, and interpret financial records. Most accountants are in charge of a wide scope of finance-related tasks, either for private individuals or for large-scale businesses and organizations they are employed with. They make sure that financial statements and records are accurate and comply with laws and regulations. They also compute for taxes, prepare tax returns, and ensure being paid properly and on time. As they keep track and record the flow of money, they can offer guidance on how to reduce costs, enhance revenue, and help in profit maximization.

Payroll specialist vs accountant salary

Payroll specialists and accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Payroll Specialist	Accountant
Average salary	$46,462	$54,890
Salary range	Between $34,000 And $61,000	Between $41,000 And $72,000
Highest paying City	Washington, DC	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	Connecticut	New York
Best paying company	Cambridge Associates	Meta
Best paying industry	Technology	Technology

Differences between payroll specialist and accountant education

There are a few differences between a payroll specialist and an accountant in terms of educational background:

	Payroll Specialist	Accountant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 48%	Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common major	Business	Accounting
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Payroll specialist vs accountant demographics

Here are the differences between payroll specialists' and accountants' demographics:

	Payroll Specialist	Accountant
Average age	48	44
Gender ratio	Male, 17.3% Female, 82.7%	Male, 38.2% Female, 61.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 6.0% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%	Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 15.0% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	10%	7%

Differences between payroll specialist and accountant duties and responsibilities

Payroll specialist example responsibilities.

Manage a bi-weekly payroll in accordance with establish processes, including auditing timekeeping records for compliance with establish standards and policies.
Handle all FMLA, insurance, employee benefits and processing the payroll on bi-weekly bases through the KRONOS timekeeping system.
Utilize KRONOS for timekeeping and to administer security access.
Prepare payroll journal entry and provide guidance in general ledger reconciliations pertaining to payroll general ledger accounts and labor expense distribution
Establish new hires in the KRONOS timekeeping system and provide guidance and assistance to associates to communicate their responsibilities regarding payroll/timekeeping.
Input employee data into Lawson payroll program while using the utmost integrity to keep information confidential.

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Accountant example responsibilities.

Manage preparation of the statutory financial statements and financial aggregates in compliance with IFRS and local applicable norms.
Manage personnel financial matters including salaries, taxation procedures and other relate issues.
Manage and monitor accounting procedures for compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley and coordinate and facilitate external audit requirements.
Reconstruct and improve many balance sheet account reconciliations for easier reading and interpretation by senior level management.
Perform complex general accounting functions, including preparation of journal entries, account analysis and balance sheet reconciliations.
Maintain general ledgers and preparation of monthly and other periodic financial reports in accordance with GAAP and international accounting standards.

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Payroll specialist vs accountant skills

Common payroll specialist skills

Customer Service, 13%
Data Entry, 7%
Payroll Data, 5%
Human Resources, 4%
ADP Workforce, 4%
Kronos, 3%

Common accountant skills

Reconciliations, 14%
General Ledger Accounts, 6%
Account Reconciliations, 6%
GAAP, 5%
Payroll Tax Returns, 5%
Customer Service, 5%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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