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HR and Payroll Assistant Salary in the United States

How much does a HR and Payroll Assistant make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a HR and Payroll Assistant in the United States is $50,974 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $25.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $62,184
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $46,466 to $56,842
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $42,361
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence HR and Payroll Assistant Salaries

A HR and Payroll Assistant'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 HR and Payroll Assistant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a HR and Payroll Assistant'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): $45,208
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $50,543
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $56,689
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $62,333
  • Expert (over 8 years): $88,526
Levels Salary
Payroll C... Level HR and Payroll Assistant$45,208
HR and Pa... Level HR and Payroll Assistant$50,543
Payroll C... Level HR and Payroll Assistant$56,689
Payroll C... Level HR and Payroll Assistant$62,333
Payroll T... Level HR and Payroll Assistant$88,526
View as Graph

How Do HR and Payroll Assistant 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 HR and Payroll Assistants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $56,439.
  • California: $56,225.
  • Massachusetts: $55,475.

Top Paying Cities for HR and Payroll Assistants

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: $64,294
  • San Francisco: $63,590
  • Oakland: $62,250

What Skills Can Increase a HR and Payroll Assistant's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 5.77% 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.
  • HRIS (Mentioned in 2.15% Job Postings): HRIS is a management system designed specifically to provide managers with information to make HR decisions. Is a system that lets you keep track of all your employees and information about them.
  • Workday (Mentioned in 1.32% Job Postings): A cloud-based human resource management software system that unifies a wide range of HR functionality into a single system.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 5.77%
HRIS 2.15%
Workday 1.32%
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 HR and Payroll Assistant's salary.

  • Process Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • ADP Workforce Now: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Business Administration: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Process Improvement $55,052
8%
ADP Workforce Now $54,543
7%
Business Administration $53,523
5%
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HR and Payroll Assistant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For HR and Payroll Assistant roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, HR and Payroll Assistant positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view HR and Payroll Assistant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a HR and Payroll Assistant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$66,267$32.030%
Financial Services$66,267$32.030%
Internet$66,267$32.030%
Pharmaceuticals$66,267$32.030%
Software & Networking$66,267$32.030%

How Education impacts a HR and Payroll Assistant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many HR and Payroll Assistants enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a HR and Payroll Assistant with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $52,098 and $55,707).

HR and Payroll Assistant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for HR and Payroll Assistant
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.8%
High School 43.6%
Associates 24.1%
Bachelors 27.9%
Masters 2.5%
Doctorate 0.1%
View as Graph

HR and Payroll Assistant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a HR and Payroll Assistant'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 September 01, 2026
$46,466
Average $50,974/year
$56,842
$3,872
Average $4,248/month
$4,737
$894
Average $980/week
$1,093
$22
Average $25/hour
$27
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $56,842 $4,737 $1,093 $27
Average $50,974 $4,248 $980 $25
25th Percentile $46,466 $3,872 $894 $22

Most common benefits for HR and Payroll Assistant

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

Common company salaries for HR and Payroll Assistant

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

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FAQ about HR and Payroll Assistant

1. What industry pays the highest salary for HR and Payroll Assistant?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for HR and Payroll Assistant roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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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