Accounting/Payroll Administrator Salary in Goleta, CA

How much does an Accounting/Payroll Administrator make in Goleta, CA?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Accounting/Payroll Administrator in Goleta, CA is $91,753 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $44.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $107,002
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $84,551 to $99,735
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $77,994
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI Onboarding
Smart Recruiting
View as table View as graph 25% $84,551 10% $77,994 90% $107,002 75% $99,735 $91,753 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Accounting/Payroll Administrator Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $99,735 $8,311 $1,918 $48
Average $91,753 $7,646 $1,764 $44
25th Percentile $84,551 $7,046 $1,626 $41
Check out Accounting/Payroll Administrator Job Openings in Goleta, CA
Best Buy

Best Buy - Goleta, CA

Hilton

Hilton - Goleta, CA

Compensation Consultant

Cottage Health - Goleta, CA

Jitney Cart Driver

Marriott International, Inc - Goleta, CA

Search More Accounting/Payroll Administrator Jobs in Goleta, CA

Key Factors That Influence Accounting/Payroll Administrator Salaries

An Accounting/Payroll Administrator'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, skills and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Accounting/Payroll Administrator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Accounting/Payroll Administrator'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $66,514
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $77,867
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $90,089
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $109,372
  • Expert (over 8 years): $94,668
Levels Salary
Payroll A... Level Accounting/Payroll Administrator$66,514
Payroll A... Level Accounting/Payroll Administrator$77,867
Accountin... Level Accounting/Payroll Administrator$90,089
Payroll A... Level Accounting/Payroll Administrator$109,372
Payroll T... Level Accounting/Payroll Administrator$94,668
$66,514 0 yr
$77,867 < 2 yrs
$90,089 2-4 yrs
$109,372 5-8 yrs
$94,668 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Accounting/Payroll Administrators

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: $108,836
  • San Francisco: $107,644
  • Oakland: $105,376

What Skills Can Increase an Accounting/Payroll Administrator'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 an Accounting/Payroll Administrator'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
$98,175
7%
Process Improvement
$96,340
5%
Initiative
$96,340
5%
Coordination
$96,340
5%
Innovation
$96,340
5%
Analytical Skills
$95,423
4%
Get Latest Data

Accounting/Payroll Administrator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Accounting/Payroll Administrator 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, Accounting/Payroll Administrator positions in Retail & Wholesale or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Accounting/Payroll Administrator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Accounting/Payroll Administrator

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$100,928$49.010%
Energy & Utilities$100,928$49.010%
Financial Services$100,928$49.010%
Internet$100,928$49.010%
Pharmaceuticals$100,928$49.010%

Accounting/Payroll Administrator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Accounting/Payroll Administrator'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

Salaries of jobs related to Accounting/Payroll Administrator

Find Your Next Accounting/Payroll Administrator Job

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

United States
  • ServiceMaster Clean Team

    Goleta, CA

    ServiceMaster Clean Team | Goleta, CA

    T tulo del puesto:Limpiador(a) de Oficinas - Medio Tiempo (Goleta, CA) Pago:$18.00 por horaHorario:Lunes a Viernes, 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM Descripci n del traba... more

    2 Days Ago

  • Hilton Garden Inn

    Goleta, CA

    Hilton Garden Inn | Goleta, CA

    Title:Houseperson Job Summary:Maintain a commitment to continually enhance a unique, exciting atmosphere and guest experience. consistently provide friendl... more

    2 Days Ago

  • United States Postal Service

    Goleta, CA

    United States Postal Service | Goleta, CA

    In this role you will perform a variety of clerk duties required to process mail using automated mail processing equipment or manual methods of sorting and... more

    2 Days Ago

  • Rigo’s Windows &amp; Patio Doors

    Goleta, CA

    Rigo’s Windows &amp; Patio Doors | Goleta, CA

    Part Time Secretary you will assume the duty of clerical and administrative support in order to optimize workflow procedures in the office.You will assist ... more

    2 Days Ago

  • Marriott International, Inc

    Goleta, CA

    Marriott International, Inc | Goleta, CA

    Additional InformationOpen Availability, Weekend Shifts Job Number26012903 Job CategoryFood and Beverage & Culinary LocationThe Ritz-Carlton Bacara Santa B... more

    2 Days Ago

  • Marriott International, Inc

    Goleta, CA

    Marriott International, Inc | Goleta, CA

    Additional InformationOpen Availability, Weekend Shifts, Overnight Shift Job Number26012312 Job CategoryLoss Prevention & Security LocationThe Ritz-Carlton... more

    2 Days Ago

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 Goleta, CA

Cost of Living in Goleta, CA is
49.4% 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 CompAnalyst