Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Payroll technician salary
Average payroll technician salary
$44,971
Understanding Payroll Technician Salaries
The average salary for a Payroll Technician in the United States is approximately $44,971 per year, which breaks down to about $22 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as experience level, geographic location, and industry specifics. For instance, entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced professionals can earn significantly more.
In terms of location, states such as California and New York typically offer higher salaries compared to others, reflecting the cost of living and demand for payroll professionals. In addition, positions in industries like finance and healthcare often provide competitive compensation packages.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level Payroll Technicians can expect to start around $35,000, while those with 5 to 10 years of experience may earn closer to $50,000. This growth potential makes payroll a viable career option for those looking to establish a stable income.
Job Opportunities
Numerous job openings are available across various sectors, allowing professionals to find roles that best match their skills and interests. For those seeking advancement, pursuing certifications or further training can enhance job prospects and salary potential.
Let Zippia find your next payroll technician job
Let Zippia find your next payroll technician job
Where can a Payroll Technician earn more?
Payroll technician salaries by experience level
Payroll technician salary estimates from across the web
Average payroll technician salary by state
The highest-paying states for payroll technicians are New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York. The lowest average payroll technician salary states are Montana, Georgia, and South Dakota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for payroll technicians
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $58,715 | $28.23 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $59,610 | $28.66 |
| 3 | New York | $53,757 | $25.84 |
| 4 | Illinois | $50,973 | $24.51 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $50,115 | $24.09 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $52,173 | $25.08 |
| 7 | West Virginia | $47,952 | $23.05 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $51,952 | $24.98 |
| 9 | Nevada | $49,048 | $23.58 |
| 10 | Alaska | $48,223 | $23.18 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $47,113 | $22.65 |
| 12 | Vermont | $46,356 | $22.29 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $49,704 | $23.90 |
| 14 | Washington | $52,761 | $25.37 |
| 15 | Delaware | $47,389 | $22.78 |
| 16 | Maryland | $49,976 | $24.03 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $47,878 | $23.02 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $55,861 | $26.86 |
| 19 | Kansas | $43,622 | $20.97 |
| 20 | California | $51,553 | $24.79 |
| 21 | Colorado | $43,258 | $20.80 |
| 22 | Maine | $40,512 | $19.48 |
| 23 | Indiana | $41,410 | $19.91 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $44,873 | $21.57 |
| 25 | Iowa | $40,499 | $19.47 |
| 26 | Utah | $42,536 | $20.45 |
| 27 | Michigan | $42,276 | $20.32 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $40,959 | $19.69 |
| 29 | North Dakota | $41,923 | $20.16 |
| 30 | Oregon | $44,454 | $21.37 |
| 31 | Texas | $42,116 | $20.25 |
| 32 | Ohio | $41,416 | $19.91 |
| 33 | Virginia | $43,837 | $21.08 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $37,100 | $17.84 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $39,316 | $18.90 |
| 36 | Arizona | $38,630 | $18.57 |
| 37 | Missouri | $36,028 | $17.32 |
| 38 | Idaho | $40,797 | $19.61 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $37,230 | $17.90 |
| 40 | Florida | $35,778 | $17.20 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $38,665 | $18.59 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $38,064 | $18.30 |
| 43 | Georgia | $33,168 | $15.95 |
| 44 | Montana | $33,288 | $16.00 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $37,765 | $18.16 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $34,575 | $16.62 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $36,846 | $17.71 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $32,484 | $15.62 |
| 49 | Alabama | $30,199 | $14.52 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $30,429 | $14.63 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $32,526 | $15.64 |
Highest paying cities for payroll technicians
The highest-paying cities for payroll technicians are San Francisco, CA, Washington, DC, and Seattle, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $56,347 | $27.09 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $55,834 | $26.84 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $53,105 | $25.53 |
| 4 | Cheektowaga, NY | $50,630 | $24.34 |
| 5 | Saint Cloud, MN | $50,018 | $24.05 |
| 6 | Anchorage, AK | $48,559 | $23.35 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $48,535 | $23.33 |
| 8 | Eugene, OR | $44,921 | $21.60 |
| 9 | Hampton, VA | $43,550 | $20.94 |
| 10 | Fort Collins, CO | $43,307 | $20.82 |
| 11 | Mansfield, OH | $41,966 | $20.18 |
| 12 | Indianapolis, IN | $41,080 | $19.75 |
| 13 | Pittsburgh, PA | $40,755 | $19.59 |
| 14 | Lewiston, ME | $39,846 | $19.16 |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $38,786 | $18.65 |
| 16 | Omaha, NE | $37,306 | $17.94 |
| 17 | Charlotte, NC | $36,276 | $17.44 |
| 18 | Chattanooga, TN | $34,316 | $16.50 |
| 19 | Bozeman, MT | $33,244 | $15.98 |
| 20 | Pine Bluff, AR | $32,144 | $15.45 |
Payroll technician salary details
A payroll technician's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $66,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a payroll technician's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| 75th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| Average | $44,971 | $3,748 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
Highest paying payroll technician jobs
The highest paying types of payroll technicians are payroll manager, paymaster, and payroll supervisor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timekeeper | $46,290 | $3,858 | $22.26 | 754 |
| Payroll Processor | $44,307 | $3,692 | $21.30 | 11,795 |
| Payroll Representative | $45,054 | $3,755 | $21.66 | 6,076 |
| Payroll Supervisor | $64,422 | $5,368 | $30.97 | 6,668 |
| Payroll Administrator | $46,596 | $3,883 | $22.40 | 55,490 |
| Payroll Clerk | $41,602 | $3,467 | $20.00 | 71,944 |
Top companies hiring payroll technicians now:
Which companies pay payroll technicians the most?
Payroll technician salaries at InfosysPublicService and Prudential Bank are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average payroll technician salary at companies like Wells Fargo and The Walsh Group are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Infosys Public Service | $78,430 | $37.71 |
| 2 | Prudential Bank | $65,329 | $31.41 |
| 3 | Wells Fargo | $62,111 | $29.86 |
| 4 | The Walsh Group | $54,155 | $26.04 |
| 5 | City of Roseville Michigan | $49,525 | $23.81 |
| 6 | Dart Container | $48,434 | $23.29 |
| 7 | The University of Kansas Health System | $47,913 | $23.04 |
| 8 | Covenant | $47,674 | $22.92 |
| 9 | University Hospitals | $47,632 | $22.90 |
| 10 | City of Reno | $47,499 | $22.84 |
| 11 | CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield | $46,858 | $22.53 |
| 12 | Yukon Kuskokwim Health | $46,417 | $22.32 |
| 13 | University of North Carolina | $45,641 | $21.94 |
| 14 | Calista | $45,411 | $21.83 |
| 15 | Colorado State Express | $44,751 | $21.51 |
| 16 | City of Pittsburgh | $43,192 | $20.77 |
| 17 | University | $42,986 | $20.67 |
| 18 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $42,945 | $20.65 |
| 19 | Robert Half | $42,182 | $20.28 |
| 20 | 4CD Live | $41,494 | $19.95 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Payroll Technician salary by industry
The average payroll technician salary varies across industries:
- The average payroll technician salary in the finance industry is $54,585, the highest of any industry.
- The average payroll technician salary in the finance industry is $51,763.
- Payroll technicians in the education industry earn an average salary of $38,812, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for payroll technicians
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $54,585 | $26.24 |
| 2 | Government | $51,763 | $24.89 |
| 3 | Technology | $45,113 | $21.69 |
| 4 | Professional | $43,755 | $21.04 |
| 5 | Education | $38,812 | $18.66 |
High paying payroll technician jobs
Payroll technician salary trends
The average payroll technician salary has risen by $9,430 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average payroll technician earned $35,541 annually, but today, they earn $44,971 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for payroll technicians over the last decade.
Compare payroll technician salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average payroll technician salary over time
Compare payroll technician salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Payroll technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $45,000 | $21.62 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $44,200 | $21.23 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $43,100 | $20.71 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | $42,000 | $20.18 | +3.4% |
| 2021 | $40,500 | $19.49 | +3.3% |
Recently added payroll technician salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | Workday Hris-Payroll Technology Analyst | New York, NY | 06/21/2025 | $105,000 |
| Loudoun County Public Schools | Payroll Technician III | Ashburn, VA | 06/21/2025 | $61,942 |
| San Juan Unified | Payroll Technician I (AT Payroll (PC 12056/Job ID 5838) | Carmichael, CA | 06/20/2025 | $46,018 |
| The Beach | Payroll Technician II | Long Beach, CA | 06/16/2025 | $60,000 |
| California State University System | Payroll Technician II | Long Beach, CA | 06/16/2025 | $60,000 |
| Northwest Educational Service District | School District Payroll Technician | Anacortes, WA | 06/16/2025 | $69,930 |
| CSU Careers | Payroll Technician II | Long Beach, CA | 06/15/2025 | $60,000 |
| Stanislaus State | Payroll Technician I | Turlock, CA | 06/08/2025 | $44,160 |
| Denver Public Schools | Technician III, Payroll | Denver, CO | 06/06/2025 | $55,306 |
| State of Virginia | Payroll Technician | Radford, VA | 05/27/2025 | $44,000 |
Payroll technician salary FAQs
Search for payroll technician jobs