What are the main factors that influence a Payroll Administrator I's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

What industry pays the highest salary for Payroll Administrator I?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Payroll Administrator I roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

How does experience change A Payroll Administrator 's salary?

A Payroll Administrator 's salary grows with experience: a Payroll Administrator I (0-2 years)earns $63,296, a Payroll Administrator II (2-4 years)earns $74,095, a Payroll Administrator III (4-7 years)earns $85,725, a Payroll Administrator IV (7+ years)earns $104,070, a Payroll Team Lead (7+ years)earns $90,078,

What are the highest paying states for a Payroll Administrator I?

Payroll Administrator I salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Payroll Administrator I roles are District of Columbia $69,202, California $68,940, Massachusetts $68,021. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Payroll Administrator roles make?

Salaries for Payroll Administrator level roles vary by specialization: Lead Payroll Administrator: $103,428; Payroll Administrator IV: $102,765; Payroll Administrator III: $84,650; Certified Payroll Administrator: $77,275; Accountant/Payroll Administrator: $74,114.

Click or scroll to view upper level job

Payroll Administrator I Salary in Delaware

How much does a Payroll Administrator I make in Delaware?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Payroll Administrator I in Delaware is $63,296 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $30.

However, a Payroll Administrator I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $72,650
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $56,987 to $68,192
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $51,243

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2026 Compensation Trend

Recruit with AI

Smart Recruiting

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Payroll Administrator I Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$68,192	$5,683	$1,311	$33
Average	$63,296	$5,275	$1,217	$30
25th Percentile	$56,987	$4,749	$1,096	$27

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Payroll Administrator I Job Openings in Delaware

Sr Payroll Administrator

Jobot - Newark, DE

Travel L&D RN

Focus Staff - RAPID CITY, SD

Travel L&D RN

Focus Staff - LEBANON, NH

Travel ER RN

Focus Staff - URBANA, IL

Search More Payroll Administrator I Jobs in Delaware

Key Factors That Influence Payroll Administrator I Salaries

A Payroll Administrator I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Payroll Administrator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Payroll Administrator I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Payroll Administrator I (0-2 years): $63,296
Payroll Administrator II (2-4 years): $74,095
Payroll Administrator III (4-7 years): $85,725
Payroll Administrator IV (7+ years): $104,070
Payroll Team Lead (7+ years): $90,078

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Payroll Administrator I	0-2 years	$63,296
Payroll Administrator II	2-4 years	$74,095
Payroll Administrator III	4-7 years	$85,725
Payroll Administrator IV	7+ years	$104,070
Payroll Team Lead	7+ years	$90,078

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Payroll Administrator I Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Payroll Administrator Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $69,202.
California: $68,940.
Massachusetts: $68,021.

District of Columbia $69,202 California $68,940 Massachusetts $68,021 Washington $67,771 New Jersey $67,746 Alaska $67,658 Connecticut $66,796 New York $66,446

Hawaii $65,327 Rhode Island $64,802 Maryland $64,446 Minnesota $63,958 Colorado $63,771 Illinois $63,708 Oregon $63,471 Delaware $63,296

New Hampshire $63,186 Virginia $62,940 Pennsylvania $62,221 Nevada $61,858 North Dakota $61,739 Michigan $61,552 Wisconsin $61,483 Vermont $61,346

Texas $60,964 Maine $60,939 Arizona $60,902 Ohio $60,858 Georgia $60,283 Indiana $59,996 Wyoming $59,939 Utah $59,852

Iowa $59,814 Kansas $59,514 Louisiana $59,427 North Carolina $59,396 Missouri $59,383 Florida $59,139 Montana $59,008 Nebraska $58,883

Kentucky $58,814 South Carolina $58,564 Tennessee $58,408 Idaho $58,346 New Mexico $57,889 Oklahoma $57,789 Alabama $57,421 South Dakota $56,802

Arkansas $56,464 West Virginia $56,283 Mississippi $55,739

Top Paying Cities for Payroll Administrator Is

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

Lincoln: $63,011
Little Creek: $63,472
Magnolia: $63,381

Lincoln, DE $63,011 Little Creek, DE $63,472 Magnolia, DE $63,381 Milford, DE $63,171 Marydel, DE $63,275 Millsboro, DE $62,746 Millville, DE $62,843 Milton, DE $62,952

Nassau, DE $62,998 Ocean View, DE $62,833 Rehoboth Beach, DE $62,953 Seaford, DE $62,989 Selbyville, DE $62,728 Smyrna, DE $63,516 Viola, DE $63,223 Woodside, DE $63,393

Bear, DE $63,247 Newark, DE $63,223 Claymont, DE $63,353 Delaware City, DE $63,286 Hockessin, DE $63,218 Kirkwood, DE $63,275 Middletown, DE $63,299 Montchanin, DE $63,232

New Castle, DE $63,241 Odessa, DE $63,330 Port Penn, DE $63,373 Rockland, DE $63,238 Saint Georges, DE $63,279 Townsend, DE $63,376 Winterthur, DE $63,246 Lewes, DE $62,976

Wilmington, DE $63,221 Dover, DE $63,472 Dover Afb, DE $63,138 Bethany Beach, DE $62,766 Bethel, DE $62,831 Bridgeville, DE $62,980 Camden Wyoming, DE $63,293 Cheswold, DE $63,451

Clayton, DE $63,453 Dagsboro, DE $62,723 Delmar, DE $62,622 Ellendale, DE $62,812 Felton, DE $63,166 Fenwick Island, DE $62,736 Frankford, DE $62,627 Frederica, DE $63,228

Georgetown, DE $62,699 Greenwood, DE $62,990 Harbeson, DE $62,766 Harrington, DE $63,086 Hartly, DE $63,282 Houston, DE $62,996 Kenton, DE $63,456 Laurel, DE $62,661

Yorklyn, DE $63,236

Payroll Administrator I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Payroll Administrator I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $70,796. While startup companies pay approximate $59,872.

Payroll Administrator I Salary by Company Size

Company Size	Employees	Average Salary
Startup	1~50	$59,872
Growth Stage	51~500	$63,324
Established	501~5000	$68,367
Enterprise	5000+	$70,796

Payroll Administrator I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Payroll Administrator I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 10% above the average. In contrast, Payroll Administrator positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Healthcare typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Payroll Administrator I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Payroll Administrator I

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense	$69,625	$33.0	10%
Biotechnology	$69,625	$33.0	10%
Business Services	$69,625	$33.0	10%
Chemicals	$69,625	$33.0	10%
Construction	$69,625	$33.0	10%

Payroll Administrator I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Payroll Administrator I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on July 01, 2026

$56,987

Average $63,296/year

$68,192

$4,749

Average $5,275/month

$5,683

$1,096

Average $1,217/week

$1,311

$27

Average $30/hour

$33

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$68,192	$5,683	$1,311	$33
Average	$63,296	$5,275	$1,217	$30
25th Percentile	$56,987	$4,749	$1,096	$27

Payroll Administrator I Salary Growth & Career Path

Payroll Administrator I

Payroll Administrator II

Payroll Manager

For a Payroll Administrator I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Payroll Administrator II role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $74,095 - a projected growth of 17% over your current level.

Salaries of jobs related to Payroll Administrator I

Find Your Next Payroll Administrator I Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Payroll Administrator I job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Cost of Living In Delaware

Cost of Living in Delaware is

1.3% Higher

than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

Explore Cost of Living Calculator

Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting

See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about