Payroll Assistant Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Payroll Assistant in the United States is $49,155 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $24.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $59,127
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $44,418 to $54,375
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $40,106
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View as table View as graph 25% $44,418 10% $40,106 90% $59,127 75% $54,375 $49,155 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Payroll Assistant Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $54,375 $4,531 $1,046 $26
Average $49,155 $4,096 $945 $24
25th Percentile $44,418 $3,702 $854 $21
Check out Payroll Assistant Job Openings in the United States
Payroll Specialist

Lane Enterprises Inc - CAMP HILL, PA

Senior Payroll Processing Specialist

Peckham Industries - BREWSTER, NY

Payroll Analyst

Peckham Industries - BREWSTER, NY

Payroll Processor

IDC Management LLC - OAK RIDGE, TN

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Key Factors That Influence Payroll Assistant Salaries

A 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 Payroll Assistant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a 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): $44,286
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $49,484
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $55,483
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $61,020
  • Expert (over 8 years): $86,597
Levels Salary
Payroll C... Level Payroll Assistant$44,286
Payroll A... Level Payroll Assistant$49,484
Payroll C... Level Payroll Assistant$55,483
Payroll C... Level Payroll Assistant$61,020
Payroll T... Level Payroll Assistant$86,597
$44,286 0 yr
$49,484 < 2 yrs
$55,483 2-4 yrs
$61,020 5-8 yrs
$86,597 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for 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: $61,999
  • San Francisco: $61,389
  • Oakland: $60,028

What Skills Can Increase a 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.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 5.77%
HRIS 2.15%
Workday 1.32%
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 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
$53,087
8%
ADP Workforce Now
$52,596
7%
Business Administration
$51,613
5%
Workday
$51,121
4%
Analytical Skills
$51,121
4%
Collaboration
$51,121
4%
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How Education impacts a Payroll Assistant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many 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 Payroll Assistant with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $52,098 and $55,707).

Payroll Assistant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for 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%
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Payroll Assistant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a 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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Payroll Assistant

Salaries for a Payroll Assistant can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $42,694 in 2023 to around $42,535 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Payroll Assistant salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Payroll Assistant Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$42,694
2024
$42,866
2025
$42,535
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $42,694
2024 $42,866
2025 $42,535
2026
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2027
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Most common benefits for Payroll Assistant

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

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

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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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