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Payroll Team Lead Salary in the United States

How much does a Payroll Team Lead make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Payroll Team Lead in the United States is $88,959 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $43.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $103,910
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $77,649 to $96,785
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $67,352
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Payroll Team Lead Salaries

A Payroll Team Lead'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 Team Lead Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Payroll Team Lead'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 III (4-7 years): $84,657
  • 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
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Payroll Administrator III4-7 years$84,657
Payroll Administrator IV7+ years$102,777
Payroll Team Lead7+ years$88,959
Payroll Supervisor7+ years$95,474
Payroll Manager7+ years$111,516
View as Graph

How Do Payroll Team Leads 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 Team Leads. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $98,495.
  • California: $98,122.
  • Massachusetts: $96,814.

Top Paying Cities for Payroll Team Lead

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: $112,204
  • San Francisco: $110,975
  • Oakland: $108,637

What Skills Can Increase a Payroll Team Lead's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 4.39% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Data Entry (Mentioned in 2.63% Job Postings): Transcribing information into an electronic medium such as a computer or other electronic device.
  • Auditing (Mentioned in 0.88% Job Postings): 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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 4.39%
Data Entry 2.63%
Auditing 0.88%
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 Team Lead's salary.

  • Legal Compliance: Can increase your salary by up to 60%.
  • People Management: Can increase your salary by up to 26%.
  • Accounting and Reporting: Can increase your salary by up to 25%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Legal Compliance $142,334
60%
People Management $112,088
26%
Accounting and Reporting $111,199
25%
Get Latest Data

Payroll Team Lead Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Payroll Team Lead salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $99,584. While startup companies pay approximate $84,246.

Payroll Team Lead Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $84,246
Growth Stage 51~500 $89,100
Established 501~5000 $96,166
Enterprise 5000+ $99,584

Payroll Team Lead Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Payroll Team Lead roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Payroll Team Lead positions in Biotechnology or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Payroll Team Lead as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Payroll Team Lead

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$133,438$64.050%

Payroll Team Lead Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Payroll Team Lead'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
$77,649
Average $88,959/year
$96,785
$6,471
Average $7,413/month
$8,065
$1,493
Average $1,711/week
$1,861
$37
Average $43/hour
$47
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $96,785 $8,065 $1,861 $47
Average $88,959 $7,413 $1,711 $43
25th Percentile $77,649 $6,471 $1,493 $37

Payroll Team Lead Salary Growth & Career Path

Payroll Team Lead

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Advancement

For a Payroll Team Lead, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Payroll Supervisor role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $95,474 - a projected growth of 7% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Payroll Team Lead

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

Common company salaries for Payroll Team Lead

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

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FAQ about Payroll Team Lead

1. Where can a Payroll Team Lead earn the most?

A Payroll Team Lead'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 Team Lead earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Payroll Team Lead is $112,204.

2. What is the highest pay for Payroll Team Lead?

The highest pay for Payroll Team Lead is $103,910.

3. What is the lowest pay for Payroll Team Lead?

The lowest pay for Payroll Team Lead is $67,352.

4. What are the responsibilities of Payroll Team Lead?

Responsible for the coordination of payroll processing operations for a team. Monitors workflow, team assignments, and processing deadlines. Verifies accurate calculation of wages, tax withholding, and company deductions. Assists team members with resolving errors or responding to inquiries. May prepare reports on employee pay, commissions and bonuses; vacation, sick, disability and workers compensation leave; taxes, withholding, etc. Coordinates the distribution of paychecks and direct deposit programs. Provides training to team on policies, regulations, and processes. May require a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a supervisor. Supervises a small group of para-professional staff in an organization characterized by highly transactional or repetitive processes. Contributes to the development of processes and procedures. Typically requires 3 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. Thorough knowledge of functional area under supervision.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Payroll Team Lead?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Payroll Team Lead roles, with salaries approximately 50% 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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