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Payroll Supervisor Salary in the United States

How much does a Payroll Supervisor make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Payroll Supervisor in the United States is $95,474 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $46.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $108,635
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $88,679 to $102,363
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $82,493
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Payroll Supervisor Salaries

A Payroll Supervisor'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Payroll Supervisor Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Payroll Supervisor'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 IV (7+ years): $102,777
  • Payroll Team Lead (7+ years): $88,959
  • Payroll Supervisor (7+ years): $95,474
  • Payroll Manager (7+ years): $111,516
  • Payroll Director (7+ years): $160,492
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Payroll Administrator IV7+ years$102,777
Payroll Team Lead7+ years$88,959
Payroll Supervisor7+ years$95,474
Payroll Manager7+ years$111,516
Payroll Director7+ years$160,492
View as Graph

How Do Payroll Supervisors 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 Supervisors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $105,709.
  • California: $105,308.
  • Massachusetts: $103,904.

Top Paying Cities for Payroll Supervisor

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: $120,421
  • San Francisco: $119,103
  • Oakland: $116,593

What Skills Can Increase a Payroll Supervisor's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 5.23% 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.
  • Data Entry (Mentioned in 2.27% Job Postings): Transcribing information into an electronic medium such as a computer or other electronic device.
  • Accounts Payable (Mentioned in 1.36% Job Postings): Accounts payable (AP) is money owed by a business to its suppliers shown as a liability on a company's balance sheet. It is distinct from notes payable liabilities, which are debts created by formal legal instrument documents.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 5.23%
Data Entry 2.27%
Accounts Payable 1.36%
See More Skills

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 Supervisor's salary.

  • Client Service: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Workday: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Client Service $105,976
11%
Workday $101,202
6%
Collaboration $101,202
6%
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Payroll Supervisor Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Payroll Supervisor salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $106,878. While startup companies pay approximate $90,416.

Payroll Supervisor Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $90,416
Growth Stage 51~500 $95,626
Established 501~5000 $103,209
Enterprise 5000+ $106,878

Payroll Supervisor Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Payroll Supervisor roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 24% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 12% above the average. In contrast, Payroll Supervisor positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Payroll Supervisor as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Payroll Supervisor

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$106,931$51.012%
Biotechnology$105,021$50.010%
Pharmaceuticals$104,067$50.09%
Energy & Utilities$103,112$50.08%
Software & Networking$102,157$49.07%

How Education impacts an Payroll Supervisor's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Payroll Supervisor enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Payroll Supervisor with a Bachelor's Degree is between $94,864 and $101,841.

Payroll Supervisor Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Payroll Supervisor
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 40.7%
High School 40.7%
Associates 23.7%
Bachelors 31.4%
Masters 4.2%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Payroll Supervisor Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Payroll Supervisor'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 August 01, 2026
$88,679
Average $95,474/year
$102,363
$7,390
Average $7,956/month
$8,530
$1,705
Average $1,836/week
$1,969
$43
Average $46/hour
$49
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $102,363 $8,530 $1,969 $49
Average $95,474 $7,956 $1,836 $46
25th Percentile $88,679 $7,390 $1,705 $43

Payroll Supervisor Salary Growth & Career Path

Payroll Supervisor

Next Role

Advancement

For a Payroll Supervisor, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Payroll Manager role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $111,516 - a projected growth of 17% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Payroll Supervisor

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Payroll Supervisor

Here are companies hiring for Payroll Supervisor and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Payroll Supervisor

1. Where can a Payroll Supervisor earn the most?

A Payroll Supervisor'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 Supervisor earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Payroll Supervisor is $120,421.

2. What is the highest pay for Payroll Supervisor?

The highest pay for Payroll Supervisor is $108,635.

3. What is the lowest pay for Payroll Supervisor?

The lowest pay for Payroll Supervisor is $82,493.

4. What are the responsibilities of Payroll Supervisor?

Responsible for the supervision and coordination of payroll processing operations. Ensures accurate calculation of wages and processing of tax withholding and company deductions. Prepares statistical reports on employee pay, commissions and bonuses; vacation, sick, disability and workers compensation leave; taxes, withholding, etc. Oversees the distribution of paychecks and direct deposit programs. Provides training to team on policies, regulations, and processes. Assists team members with resolving errors or responding to inquiries. May be the first level escalation for complaints or complex error resolution. Typically requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department. Supervises a group of primarily para-professional level staffs. May also be a level above a supervisor within high volume administrative/ production environments. Makes day-to-day decisions within or for a group/small department. Has some authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 3-5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. Thorough knowledge of functional area and department processes.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Payroll Supervisor?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Payroll Supervisor roles, with salaries approximately 12% 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.

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.

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