Payroll Administrator III Salary in the United States
How much does a Payroll Administrator III make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Payroll Administrator III in the United States is $84,650 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $41.
However, a Payroll Administrator III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $97,985
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $77,537 to $91,630
Key Factors That Influence Payroll Administrator III Salaries
A Payroll Administrator III'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 III'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): $62,502
Payroll Administrator II (2-4 years): $73,166
Payroll Administrator III (4-7 years): $84,650
Payroll Administrator IV (7+ years): $102,765
Payroll Team Lead (7+ years): $88,948
Job Role
Years of Experience
Average Salary
Payroll Administrator I
0-2 years
$62,502
Payroll Administrator II
2-4 years
$73,166
Payroll Administrator III
4-7 years
$84,650
Payroll Administrator IV
7+ years
$102,765
Payroll Team Lead
7+ years
$88,948
$62,502Payroll A...
$73,166Payroll A...
$84,650Payroll A...
$102,765Payroll A...
$88,948Payroll T...
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Payroll Administrator III 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 IIIs.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
San Jose: $106,769
San Francisco: $105,600
Oakland: $103,375
San Jose, CA$106,769
San Francisco, CA$105,600
Oakland, CA$103,375
New York, NY$97,465
Paramus, NJ$96,280
Queens Village, NY$96,276
Passaic, NJ$96,195
Bergenfield, NJ$96,188
Stamford, CT$96,002
Huntington, NY$95,967
Newark, NJ$95,341
Bridgeport, CT$95,163
Vallejo, CA$94,994
New Brunswick, NJ$94,960
Petaluma, CA$94,910
Middlesex, NJ$94,749
Somerset, NJ$94,689
Santa Cruz, CA$94,579
Boston, MA$94,063
Monterey, CA$93,766
Seattle, WA$93,572
Santa Rosa, CA$93,555
Los Angeles, CA$93,530
Juneau, AK$93,310
Washington, DC$93,217
Orange, CA$92,915
Santa Ana, CA$92,692
Long Beach, CA$92,607
Anaheim, CA$92,590
Anchorage, AK$92,548
Santa Maria, CA$92,294
Everett, WA$92,277
Danbury, CT$91,979
Bremerton, WA$91,862
Tacoma, WA$91,557
New Suffolk, NY$91,556
Sacramento, CA$91,532
Santa Barbara, CA$91,439
Trenton, NJ$91,346
San Diego, CA$91,346
Brockton, MA$91,253
Fairbanks, AK$91,045
Lompoc, CA$90,829
Lowell, MA$90,761
Ventura, CA$90,745
Nashua, NH$90,728
Stockton, CA$90,719
Modesto, CA$90,101
Poughkeepsie, NY$89,915
Olympia, WA$89,754
Kennewick, WA$89,754
New Haven, CT$89,721
Lawrence, MA$89,416
Hartford, CT$89,331
Riverside, CA$89,314
New Bedford, MA$89,230
Richland, WA$89,230
Bakersfield, CA$89,111
San Bernardino, CA$89,077
New Britain, CT$89,069
Atlantic City, NJ$89,069
New London, CT$89,035
Norwich, CT$89,009
Portsmouth, NH$88,993
Boulder, CO$88,813
Portland, OR$88,696
Worcester, MA$88,688
Minneapolis, MN$88,425
Philadelphia, PA$88,307
Honolulu, HI$88,028
Saint Paul, MN$87,987
Vineland, NJ$87,968
Providence, RI$87,723
Chicago, IL$87,477
Bellingham, WA$87,376
Springfield, MA$87,308
Baltimore, MD$87,283
Chico, CA$87,071
Pittsfield, MA$86,842
Manchester, NH$86,682
Spokane, WA$86,309
Denver, CO$86,301
Albany, NY$85,903
Troy, NY$85,869
Nassau, NY$85,778
Schenectady, NY$85,691
Wilmington, DE$85,623
Burlington, VT$85,505
Salem, OR$85,471
Portland, ME$85,209
Yakima, WA$85,124
Rochester, MN$84,862
Reno, NV$84,819
Fresno, CA$84,819
Milwaukee, WI$84,743
Detroit, MI$84,658
Ann Arbor, MI$84,644
Allentown, PA$84,633
Colorado Springs, CO$84,489
Syracuse, NY$84,447
Carson City, NV$84,447
Houston, TX$84,328
Eugene, OR$84,286
Gary, IN$84,184
Springfield, OR$84,117
Bismarck, ND$84,100
Galveston, TX$84,041
Medford, OR$83,914
Fort Collins, CO$83,880
Concord, NH$83,837
Austin, TX$83,812
Mesa, AZ$83,634
Reading, PA$83,626
Phoenix, AZ$83,617
Dallas, TX$83,592
Saint Cloud, MN$83,511
Madison, WI$83,397
Utica, NY$83,169
Rochester, NY$83,033
Des Moines, IA$83,025
Raleigh, NC$83,016
Atlanta, GA$82,889
Battle Creek, MI$82,864
Salt Lake City, UT$82,838
Lancaster, PA$82,712
Harrisburg, PA$82,593
Kansas City, MO$82,508
Champaign, IL$82,491
Kansas City, KS$82,491
Fort Worth, TX$82,483
Columbus, OH$82,469
Boca Raton, FL$82,449
Pittsburgh, PA$82,415
Richmond, VA$82,381
Indianapolis, IN$82,364
Cleveland, OH$82,356
Las Vegas, NV$82,254
Cincinnati, OH$82,254
Petersburg, VA$82,127
Huntsville, AL$82,000
Lansing, MI$81,944
Lebanon, PA$81,933
Pueblo, CO$81,924
Appleton, WI$81,899
Buffalo, NY$81,865
Dayton, OH$81,840
Racine, WI$81,823
Charlotte, NC$81,814
Saint Louis, MO$81,789
York, PA$81,738
Elkhart, IN$81,738
Gastonia, NC$81,722
Billings, MT$81,702
Beaumont, TX$81,679
Lorain, OH$81,662
Benton Harbor, MI$81,645
Toledo, OH$81,628
Binghamton, NY$81,586
Rock Hill, SC$81,577
Rockford, IL$81,535
Springfield, IL$81,501
Elyria, OH$81,493
Fargo, ND$81,493
Flagstaff, AZ$81,433
Fort Lauderdale, FL$81,383
Duluth, MN$81,332
Miami, FL$81,332
Cheyenne, WY$81,272
Grand Forks, ND$81,272
Bangor, ME$81,086
Cedar Rapids, IA$80,993
Durham, NC$80,958
Louisville, KY$80,951
Grand Rapids, MI$80,934
Hialeah, FL$80,925
Casper, WY$80,807
Scranton, PA$80,705
New Orleans, LA$80,680
Virginia Beach, VA$80,671
Akron, OH$80,629
Peoria, IL$80,519
Sarasota, FL$80,502
Nashville, TN$80,443
Omaha, NE$80,443
Green Bay, WI$80,443
Baton Rouge, LA$80,401
Charleston, SC$80,384
Jamestown, NY$80,341
Davenport, IA$80,341
Tucson, AZ$80,299
Saint Petersburg, FL$80,248
Tampa, FL$80,231
Evansville, IN$80,180
Port Arthur, TX$80,180
Bradenton, FL$80,147
Santa Fe, NM$79,994
Orlando, FL$79,842
Clearwater, FL$79,816
Canton, OH$79,639
La Crosse, WI$79,639
Albuquerque, NM$79,588
Newport News, VA$79,579
High Point, NC$79,554
Ogden, UT$79,520
Corpus Christi, TX$79,452
Norfolk, VA$79,402
Laramie, WY$79,402
Rock Island, IL$79,351
Saginaw, MI$79,334
Jacksonville, FL$79,326
Salisbury, NC$79,309
Boise, ID$79,292
Moline, IL$79,249
Fort Myers, FL$79,224
Memphis, TN$79,207
Tulsa, OK$79,165
Waterloo, IA$79,114
Spartanburg, SC$79,029
Lincoln, NE$78,987
Fort Wayne, IN$78,970
Provo, UT$78,962
Cedar Falls, IA$78,860
San Antonio, TX$78,826
Greensboro, NC$78,792
South Bend, IN$78,784
Savannah, GA$78,691
Muskegon, MI$78,657
Birmingham, AL$78,648
Winston Salem, NC$78,607
Lake Charles, LA$78,403
Anderson, IN$78,386
Lexington, KY$78,361
Augusta, GA$78,335
Greenville, SC$78,335
Lima, OH$78,267
Wichita, KS$78,259
Tuscaloosa, AL$78,259
Columbia, SC$78,183
Springfield, OH$78,166
Asheville, NC$78,030
Bloomington, IN$77,971
Knoxville, TN$77,666
Shreveport, LA$77,658
Wilmington, NC$77,548
Roanoke, VA$77,548
Topeka, KS$77,395
Frankfort, KY$77,386
Oklahoma City, OK$77,328
Chillicothe, OH$77,294
Longview, TX$77,285
Melbourne, FL$77,277
Sioux Falls, SD$77,142
Mobile, AL$77,133
Terre Haute, IN$77,099
Altoona, PA$77,048
Amarillo, TX$76,989
Killeen, TX$76,964
Fayetteville, AR$76,896
Chattanooga, TN$76,871
Sioux City, IA$76,794
Idaho Falls, ID$76,778
Lynchburg, VA$76,710
Gainesville, FL$76,600
Portsmouth, OH$76,557
Little Rock, AR$76,541
Lafayette, LA$76,507
Youngstown, OH$76,507
Daytona Beach, FL$76,456
Clarksville, TN$76,447
Pensacola, FL$76,439
Temple, TX$76,433
Hopkinsville, KY$76,185
Erie, PA$76,168
Florence, SC$76,134
Charleston, WV$75,999
Great Falls, MT$75,956
Macon, GA$75,838
Tallahassee, FL$75,829
Fayetteville, NC$75,813
Waco, TX$75,796
Helena, MT$75,736
Pine Bluff, AR$75,704
Vincennes, IN$75,601
Lubbock, TX$75,567
Alamogordo, NM$75,516
Twin Falls, ID$75,440
Rapid City, SD$75,415
Jackson, MS$75,262
Huntington, WV$75,256
Greenville, MS$75,254
Parkersburg, WV$75,168
Montgomery, AL$75,152
Wichita Falls, TX$75,068
Springfield, MO$75,068
Biloxi, MS$75,025
Monroe, LA$74,941
Johnstown, PA$74,881
Sumter, SC$74,848
Columbus, GA$74,839
Pascagoula, MS$74,678
Abilene, TX$74,678
Kingsport, TN$74,458
Albany, GA$74,458
Gulfport, MS$74,433
Alexandria, LA$74,153
Fort Smith, AR$73,942
El Paso, TX$73,713
Las Cruces, NM$73,332
Harlingen, TX$73,117
Pocatello, ID$73,104
Florence, AL$72,994
Brownsville, TX$72,977
Mcallen, TX$72,799
Dothan, AL$72,680
Columbus, MS$72,178
Altus, OK$71,783
Lawton, OK$71,622
Pierre, SD$71,318
What Skills Can Increase a Payroll Administrator III's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Customer Service (Mentioned in 5.25% Job Postings): 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 (Mentioned in 2.28% Job Postings): Creating and keeping track of business transactions and activities to monitor financial operations.
Microsoft Excel (Mentioned in 1.28% Job Postings): Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet developed by Microsoft for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. It features calculation or computation capabilities, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Customer Service
5.25%
General Ledger
2.28%
Microsoft Excel
1.28%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Payroll Administrator III's salary.
Workday: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Process Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Workday
$90,576
7%
Process Improvement
$88,883
5%
Initiative
$88,883
5%
Coordination
$88,883
5%
Innovation
$88,883
5%
Analytical Skills
$88,036
4%
Get Latest Data
Payroll Administrator III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Payroll Administrator III salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $94,680.
While startup companies pay approximate $80,071.
Payroll Administrator III Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$80,071
Growth Stage
51~500
$84,688
Established
501~5000
$91,432
Enterprise
5000+
$94,680
Payroll Administrator III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Payroll Administrator III 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 Biotechnology and Energy & Utilities
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 10% above the average.
In contrast, Payroll Administrator positions in Retail & Wholesale or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Payroll Administrator III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Payroll Administrator III
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology
$93,115
$45.0
10%
Energy & Utilities
$93,115
$45.0
10%
Financial Services
$93,115
$45.0
10%
Internet
$93,115
$45.0
10%
Pharmaceuticals
$93,115
$45.0
10%
Payroll Administrator III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Payroll Administrator III'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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$77,537
Average$84,650/year
$91,630
$6,461
Average$7,054/month
$7,636
$1,491
Average$1,628/week
$1,762
$37
Average$41/hour
$44
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$91,630
$7,636
$1,762
$44
Average
$84,650
$7,054
$1,628
$41
25th Percentile
$77,537
$6,461
$1,491
$37
Payroll Administrator III Salary Growth & Career Path
For a Payroll Administrator III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Payroll Administrator IV role.
This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to
$102,765 - a projected growth of
21%
over your current level.
Salaries of jobs related to Payroll Administrator III
Salaries for a Payroll Administrator III can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $78,703 in 2023
to around $77,331 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Payroll Administrator III salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Payroll Administrator III Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$78,703
2024
$77,819
2025
$77,331
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$78,703
2024
$77,819
2025
$77,331
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Payroll Administrator III
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.
Compensation Planning
Common company salaries for Payroll Administrator III
Here are companies hiring for Payroll Administrator III and their salaries, click below for more details.
C
$128,509/per year
C R Bard Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
H
$124,697/per year
Henry Schein Canada
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$123,899/per year
Nordex Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$120,416/per year
Nipro Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$115,870/per year
Enovis
Biotechnology
the United States
A
$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy
Biotechnology
the United States
M
$112,110/per year
MiniMed Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug Development
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$110,229/per year
Life Technologies Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
Z
$106,224/per year
Zimmer Biomet
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$103,077/per year
Promontory Therapeutics
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$102,181/per year
Steris PLC
Biotechnology
the United States
G
$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicines
Biotechnology
the United States
R
$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLC
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$94,235/per year
Pleno Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$93,666/per year
Simulaids Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CAS
Biotechnology
the United States
O
$86,468/per year
Onward Technology
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$84,682/per year
Eyeco Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$84,523/per year
Paerosol
Biotechnology
the United States
I
$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$82,815/per year
Stateside PPE
Biotechnology
the United States
D
$82,041/per year
Digi Bio
Biotechnology
the United States
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FAQ about Payroll Administrator III
1. Where can a Payroll Administrator III earn the most?
A Payroll Administrator III'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 III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Payroll Administrator III is $106,769.
2. What is the highest pay for Payroll Administrator III?
The highest pay for Payroll Administrator III is $97,985.
3. What is the lowest pay for Payroll Administrator III?
The lowest pay for Payroll Administrator III is $71,061.
4. What are the responsibilities of Payroll Administrator III?
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. 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. 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. Requires an associate degree or equivalent. Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience.
5. What industry pays the highest salary for Payroll Administrator III?
The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Payroll Administrator III roles,
with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.