The salary of a Payroll Manager in the United States varies depending on several factors, including experience, location, education level, marketing trend and company sizes.
As of March 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Payroll Manager in the United States is $121,007. According to Salary.com, salaries can range from a low of $93,618 to a high of $151,169, with most professionals earning between $106,671 and $136,795.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $136,795 | $11,400 | $2,631 | $66 |
| Average | $121,007 | $10,084 | $2,327 | $58 |
| 25th Percentile | $106,671 | $8,889 | $2,051 | $51 |
An entry-level Payroll Manager with less than 1 year of experience earns about $114,725. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $115,348. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $116,800. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $118,461, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $121,572.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Payroll Manager | $114,725 |
| Intermediate Level Payroll Manager | $115,348 |
| Senior Level Payroll Manager | $116,800 |
| Specialist Level Payroll Manager | $118,461 |
| Expert Level Payroll Manager | $121,572 |
| Entry Level | 5% |
| Mid Level | 5% |
| Senior Level | 3% |
| Top Level | 2% |
| Experienced | 0% |
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 March 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Payroll Manager compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $102,626 in 2023 to approximately $102,340 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Payroll Manager 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 Manager information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Payroll Manager job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Payroll Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $121,007 | 67.4% | ||
| Bonus | $9,047 | 5.0% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $9,949 | 5.5% | ||
| 401K/403B | $5,462 | 3.0% | ||
| Disability | $2,601 | 1.4% | ||
| Healthcare | $8,352 | 4.7% | ||
| Pension | $7,023 | 3.9% | ||
| Time Off | $16,007 | 8.9% | ||
| Total Compensation | $179,449 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 1.3% |
| High School | 31.5% |
| Associates | 17.6% |
| Bachelors | 41.9% |
| Masters | 7.7% |
| Doctorate | 0.1% |
What Am I Worth?
The average annual salary of Payroll Manager is $121,007. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Payroll Manager is $58; the average weekly pay of Payroll Manager is $2,327; the average monthly pay of Payroll Manager is $10,084.
A Payroll Manager'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 Manager earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Payroll Manager is $151,864.
The highest pay for Payroll Manager is $151,169.
The lowest pay for Payroll Manager is $93,618.
Payroll Manager is responsible for managing payroll processing operations. Establishes policies and processes that ensure accurate calculation of wages, tax withholdings, and company deductions. Being a Payroll Manager interfaces between finance and human resource departments to provide accurate and useful information. Develops and produces payroll-related statistical reports. Additionally, Payroll Manager ensures accurate and on-time governmental reporting and compliance. Oversees the activities and training of both professionals and support staff. Directs the resolution of complex issues or errors. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a director. The Payroll Manager manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. To be a Payroll Manager typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1 - 3 years supervisory experience may be required. Extensive knowledge of the function and department processes.
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.
Leadership: Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
General Ledger: Creating and keeping track of business transactions and activities to monitor financial operations.
Auditing: Auditing refers to the independent examination of financial information of any entity whether profit oriented or not. It is a safeguard measure that prevents corruption.
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
