The salary of a Payroll Administrator I in the United States varies depending on several factors, including experience, location, education level, marketing trend and company sizes.
As of January 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Payroll Administrator I in the United States is $64,764. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $57,472 to $72,985, with most professionals earning between $50,832 and $80,469.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $72,985 | $6,082 | $1,404 | $35 |
| Average | $64,764 | $5,397 | $1,245 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $57,472 | $4,789 | $1,105 | $28 |
An entry-level Payroll Administrator I with less than 1 year of experience earns about $63,718. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $64,501. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $66,327. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $66,692, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $66,936.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Payroll Administrator I | $63,718 |
| Intermediate Level Payroll Administrator I | $64,501 |
| Senior Level Payroll Administrator I | $66,327 |
| Specialist Level Payroll Administrator I | $66,692 |
| Expert Level Payroll Administrator I | $66,936 |
| Entry Level | 2% |
| Mid Level | 0% |
| Senior Level | 2% |
| Top Level | 3% |
| Experienced | 3% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of January 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Payroll Administrator I compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $52,696 in 2023 to approximately $52,621 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Payroll Administrator I salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Payroll Administrator I information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Payroll Administrator I job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Payroll Administrator I and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $64,764 | 67.9% | ||
| Bonus | $1,391 | 1.5% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $5,061 | 5.3% | ||
| 401K/403B | $2,779 | 2.9% | ||
| Disability | $1,323 | 1.4% | ||
| Healthcare | $8,352 | 8.8% | ||
| Pension | $3,572 | 3.7% | ||
| Time Off | $8,142 | 8.5% | ||
| Total Compensation | $95,384 | 100% | ||
The average annual salary of Payroll Administrator I is $64,764. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Payroll Administrator I is $31; the average weekly pay of Payroll Administrator I is $1,245; the average monthly pay of Payroll Administrator I is $5,397.
A Payroll Administrator I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Payroll Administrator I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Payroll Administrator I is $81,279.
The highest pay for Payroll Administrator I is $80,469.
The lowest pay for Payroll Administrator I is $50,832.
Payroll Administrator I is responsible for the accurate preparation, documentation, distribution and reconciliation of payroll and the administration of the payroll system. Reviews the computation of pay and associated deductions for accuracy. Being a Payroll Administrator I maintains up-to-date knowledge of city, state, provincial, local, and federal legislation affecting payroll; understands and follows applicable provisions. Prepares required tax filings and other reporting. Additionally, Payroll Administrator I may coordinate payroll processing with an outside service provider. Responds to and resolves any inquiries regarding paychecks or payroll reporting. Ensures payroll issues are escalated and resolved promptly. May require an associate degree or equivalent. Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department. The Payroll Administrator I work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. To be a Payroll Administrator I typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Customer Service: Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
General Ledger: Creating and keeping track of business transactions and activities to monitor financial operations.
Life Insurance: Life Insurance can be defined as a contract between an insurance policy holder and an insurance company, where the insurer promises to pay a sum of money in exchange for a premium, upon the death of an insured person or after a set period
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