As of May 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Certified Payroll Specialist in Seattle, WA is $101,862, equivalent to $49 per hour, $1,959 weekly, or $8,489 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 Seattle, WA vary widely, spanning from $87,537 to $122,949. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($94,364) and 75th percentile ($112,900), while top earners (90th percentile) make $122,949 per year. This $18,536 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, Seattle Certified Payroll Specialist often earn 1.9% higher than national averages. However, Seattle currently ranks 67 statewide 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 $87,537 Seattle, WA May 01, 2026
25th Percentile Certified Payroll Specialist Salary $94,364 Seattle, WA May 01, 2026
50th Percentile Certified Payroll Specialist Salary $101,862 Seattle, WA May 01, 2026
75th Percentile Certified Payroll Specialist Salary $112,900 Seattle, WA May 01, 2026
90th Percentile Certified Payroll Specialist Salary $122,949 Seattle, WA May 01, 2026
25% $94,364 10% $87,537 90% $122,949 75% $112,900 $101,862 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Check out Certified Payroll Specialist jobs in Seattle, Washington

Payroll Specialist

Stella-Jones - Tacoma, WA

Payroll Specialist

Prime Electric - Bellevue, WA

Payroll Specialist

All Things HR, LLC - Lynnwood, WA

Payroll Specialist

PMI, Inc. - Kennewick, WA

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Certified Payroll Specialist

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Job Openings for Certified Payroll Specialist in Seattle, WA

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

Understand the total compensation opportunity for a Certified Payroll Specialist, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
94364
112900
101862

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
100003
134922
116684
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Certified Payroll Specialist in Seattle, WA. The base salary for Certified Payroll Specialist ranges from $94,364 to $112,900 with the average base salary of $101,862. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $100,003 to $134,922 with the average total cash compensation of $116,684.

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94364
112900

 

About Seattle, Washington    Seattle (/siˈætəl/ (listen) see-AT-əl) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With an e....More

Seattle, Washington  area prices were up 2.8% from a year ago

Certified Payroll Specialist Salary in popular cities: SpokaneTacomaVancouver

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