Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Payroll Benefits Specialist in Wisconsin is $69,896 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $34.
However, a Payroll Benefits Specialist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI Onboarding
AI-Powered Talent
Payroll Benefits Specialist Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $75,943 | $6,329 | $1,460 | $37 |
| Average | $69,896 | $5,825 | $1,344 | $34 |
| 25th Percentile | $63,108 | $5,259 | $1,214 | $30 |
Siena Catholic Schools of Racine - Racine, WI
Ashley Furniture - Arcadia, WI
MSA Professional Services, Inc. - Kiel, WI
St. Augustine Preparatory Academy - Milwaukee, WI
A Payroll Benefits 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.
Experience is a primary driver of a Payroll Benefits 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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Payroll A... Level Payroll Benefits Specialist | $60,107 |
| Payroll B... Level Payroll Benefits Specialist | $70,367 |
| Payroll A... Level Payroll Benefits Specialist | $81,412 |
| Payroll A... Level Payroll Benefits Specialist | $98,837 |
| Payroll T... Level Payroll Benefits Specialist | $85,549 |
What Am I Worth?
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 Benefits Specialists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
For Payroll Benefits 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 Healthcare and Construction sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Payroll Benefits Specialist positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Payroll Benefits Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | $90,864 | $44.0 | 30% |
| Construction | $83,875 | $40.0 | 20% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $80,380 | $39.0 | 15% |
| Business Services | $78,283 | $38.0 | 12% |
| Insurance | $74,788 | $36.0 | 7% |
Understanding how a Payroll Benefits 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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $75,943 | $6,329 | $1,460 | $37 |
| Average | $69,896 | $5,825 | $1,344 | $34 |
| 25th Percentile | $63,108 | $5,259 | $1,214 | $30 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Payroll Benefits Specialist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
CFS
Oregon, WI
CFS | Oregon, WI
Payroll SpecialistSalary:$58,000-$68,000About Our Client: Our client is a forward-thinking company at the forefront of innovation in their industry. With a... more
2 Days Ago
Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District
Middleton, WI
Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District | Middleton, WI
This position has primary responsibility to prepare the District payroll and all related reporting requirements related to the payroll functions.Essential ... more
3 Days Ago
Connect Search, LLC
Madison, WI
Connect Search, LLC | Madison, WI
I am seeking a. temp to hire. Payroll and Accounts Payable Specialist to support weekly payroll processing and high-volume Accounts Payable operations. Pay... more
4 Days Ago
One Tech Engineering
Appleton, WI
One Tech Engineering | Appleton, WI
Job Description. Job Description. One Tech Engineering is searching for a Payroll Specialist for a position located in Appleton, Wisconsin. The Payroll Spe... more
4 Days Ago
Salute
Franklin, WI
Salute | Franklin, WI
Payroll SpecialistSalute is a leading provider of cutting-edge Data Center Infrastructure Services, dedicated to serving data center clients worldwide.We p... more
2 Days Ago
District Council of Madison Inc., Society of SvdP
Madison, WI
District Council of Madison Inc., Society of SvdP | Madison, WI
Job Description. Job Description. Description. Part-time, Non-Exempt | 20-25 hrs./week, Monday – Friday | Flex schedule, based on department and business n... more
2 Days Ago
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.
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.
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 CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
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.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
