As of August 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Certified Payroll Specialist in District of Columbia is $102,065, equivalent to $49 per hour, $1,963 weekly, or $8,505 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Certified Payroll Specialist in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for Certified Payroll Specialist in District of Columbia vary widely, spanning from $87,707 to $123,169. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($94,549) and 75th percentile ($113,112), while top earners (90th percentile) make $123,169 per year. This $18,563 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Customer Service or HRIS, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, District of Columbia Certified Payroll Specialist often earn 10.7% higher than national averages due to demand from Fortune 57 companies. However, District of Columbia currently ranks 1 nationwide for Certified Payroll Specialist job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Certified Payroll Specialist Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Certified Payroll Specialist Salary $87,707 DC August 01, 2026
25th Percentile Certified Payroll Specialist Salary $94,549 DC August 01, 2026
50th Percentile Certified Payroll Specialist Salary $102,065 DC August 01, 2026
75th Percentile Certified Payroll Specialist Salary $113,112 DC August 01, 2026
90th Percentile Certified Payroll Specialist Salary $123,169 DC August 01, 2026
25% $94,549 10% $87,707 90% $123,169 75% $113,112 $102,065 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Payroll Specialist

ARES Corporation - Washington, DC

Senior Payroll Specialist

American University - Washington, DC

Senior Payroll Specialist

Planned Parenthood Federation of America - Washington, DC

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Certified Payroll Specialist

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Location Avg. Salary Date Updated
Location Naval Anacost Annex, DC Avg. Salary $110,496 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Parcel Return Service, DC Avg. Salary $110,500 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Washington, DC Avg. Salary $110,501 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Washington Navy Yard, DC Avg. Salary $110,500 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Job Openings for Certified Payroll Specialist in District of Columbia

Career Path for this job

  1. Down a level:

    Payroll Administrator III

    4 - 7 years experience
    Associate's Degree

  2. This Job:

    Certified Payroll Specialist

    7 + years experience
    Associate's Degree

  3. Up a level:

    Payroll Team Lead

    3 + years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

Recently searched related titles: Associate Payroll Specialist, Payroll System Analyst

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