Accounting And Payroll Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does an Accounting And Payroll Specialist make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Accounting And Payroll Specialist in the United States is $67,982 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $79,466
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $59,670 to $73,993
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $52,102
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View as table View as graph 25% $59,670 10% $52,102 90% $79,466 75% $73,993 $67,982 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Accounting And Payroll Specialist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $73,993 $6,166 $1,423 $36
Average $67,982 $5,665 $1,307 $33
25th Percentile $59,670 $4,972 $1,147 $29
Check out Accounting And Payroll Specialist Job Openings in the United States
Payroll Specialist Senior Payroll Specialist

Deutsche Post und DHL - Columbus, OH

Accounting Specialist

Environmental Comfort - Columbus, OH

Payroll Client Specialist

Consolidated Employer Services - Columbus, OH

Senior Payroll Specialist

CFS - Columbus, OH

Search More Accounting And Payroll Specialist Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Accounting And Payroll Specialist Salaries

An Accounting And Payroll Specialist'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 Accounting And Payroll Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Accounting And Payroll Specialist'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): $57,972
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $68,559
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $77,648
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $93,104
  • Expert (over 8 years): $72,889
Levels Salary
Accounts ... Level Accounting And Payroll Specialist$57,972
Accountin... Level Accounting And Payroll Specialist$68,559
Accounts ... Level Accounting And Payroll Specialist$77,648
Accounts ... Level Accounting And Payroll Specialist$93,104
Accounts ... Level Accounting And Payroll Specialist$72,889
$57,972 0 yr
$68,559 < 2 yrs
$77,648 2-4 yrs
$93,104 5-8 yrs
$72,889 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Accounting And Payroll Specialists

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: $85,746
  • San Francisco: $84,807
  • Oakland: $83,020

What Skills Can Increase an Accounting And Payroll Specialist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 2.09% 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 3.06% Job Postings): Creating and keeping track of business transactions and activities to monitor financial operations.
  • Account Reconciliation (Mentioned in 0.79% Job Postings): Account Reconcilation is the process of ensuring internal financial records to external spending.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 2.09%
General Ledger 3.06%
Account Reconciliation 0.79%
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 And Payroll Specialist's salary.
  • Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Word Processing: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Internal Control: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Coordination
$78,859
16%
Word Processing
$76,140
12%
Internal Control
$73,421
8%
Scheduling
$72,741
7%
Presentation
$72,741
7%
Collaboration
$72,741
7%
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Accounting And Payroll Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Accounting And Payroll Specialist 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 Retail & Wholesale and Insurance sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Accounting And Payroll Specialist positions in Software & Networking or Internet typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Accounting And Payroll Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Accounting And Payroll Specialist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Retail & Wholesale$88,377$42.030%
Insurance$84,978$41.025%
Aerospace & Defense$81,579$39.020%
Healthcare$78,179$38.015%
Telecom$76,140$37.012%

Accounting And Payroll Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Accounting And Payroll Specialist'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

Salary Trends for Accounting And Payroll Specialist

Salaries for an Accounting And Payroll Specialist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $66,615 in 2023 to around $65,286 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Accounting And Payroll Specialist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Accounting And Payroll Specialist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$66,615
2024
$65,872
2025
$65,286
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $66,615
2024 $65,872
2025 $65,286
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Accounting And Payroll Specialist

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Accounting And Payroll Specialist

Here are companies hiring for Accounting And Payroll Specialist and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Accounting And Payroll Specialist Job

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

United States
  • Heinzerling Community

    Columbus, OH

    Heinzerling Community | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Join the Heinzerling Community Human Resources Team. Heinzerling Community is seeking a detail-oriented, dependable, and ... more

    11 Days Ago

  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Emergency Medicine Physician Needed near Columbus, Ohio. An excellent opportunity for a full-time EM Physician to join an Emergency Department team near Co... more

    8 Days Ago

  • eviCore healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    eviCore healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Provides timely expert medical review for requests to evaluate the medical necessity of services that do not meet utilization review criteria while located... more

    8 Days Ago

  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full Bene... more

    14 Days Ago

  • Maxim Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

    16 Days Ago

  • Schneider

    Columbus, OH

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

    CDL-A - Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Average pay. $1,200-$1,450 weekly. Home time. Daily. Experience. Al... more

    17 Days Ago

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FAQ about Accounting And Payroll Specialist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Accounting And Payroll Specialist?

The Retail & Wholesale industry offers the highest average compensation for Accounting And Payroll Specialist 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.)

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