Lead Payroll Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does a Lead Payroll Specialist make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead Payroll Specialist in the United States is $101,245 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $49.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $122,323
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $93,701 to $112,278
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $86,832
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View as table View as graph 25% $93,701 10% $86,832 90% $122,323 75% $112,278 $101,245 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Lead Payroll Specialist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $112,278 $9,357 $2,159 $54
Average $101,245 $8,437 $1,947 $49
25th Percentile $93,701 $7,808 $1,802 $45
Check out Lead Payroll Specialist Job Openings in the United States
Payroll Specialist Senior Payroll Specialist

Deutsche Post und DHL - Columbus, OH

Payroll Client Specialist

Consolidated Employer Services - Columbus, OH

Senior Payroll Specialist

CFS - Columbus, OH

Lead Generation Specialist

Wing Assistant - Columbus, OH

Search More Lead Payroll Specialist Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Lead Payroll Specialist Salaries

A Lead 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 Lead Payroll Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lead 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): $71,504
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $82,727
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $100,434
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $86,931
  • Expert (over 8 years): $93,297
Levels Salary
Payroll A... Level Lead Payroll Specialist$71,504
Payroll A... Level Lead Payroll Specialist$82,727
Lead Payr... Level Lead Payroll Specialist$100,434
Payroll T... Level Lead Payroll Specialist$86,931
Payroll S... Level Lead Payroll Specialist$93,297
$71,504 0 yr
$82,727 < 2 yrs
$100,434 2-4 yrs
$86,931 5-8 yrs
$93,297 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Lead Payroll Specialist Salaries Vary from State to State?

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 Lead Payroll Specialists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $112,098.
  • California: $111,673.
  • Massachusetts: $110,185.

Top Paying Cities for Lead 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: $127,700
  • San Francisco: $126,302
  • Oakland: $123,640

What Skills Can Increase a Lead Payroll Specialist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 5.79% 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 2.48% 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.
  • Accounts Payable (Mentioned in 1.34% Job Postings): Accounts payable (AP) is money owed by a business to its suppliers shown as a liability on a company's balance sheet. It is distinct from notes payable liabilities, which are debts created by formal legal instrument documents.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 5.79%
HRIS 2.48%
Accounts Payable 1.34%
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 Lead Payroll Specialist's salary.
  • Business Administration: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Process Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Business Administration
$106,307
5%
Commitment
$106,307
5%
Process Improvement
$105,295
4%
Workday
$105,295
4%
Payroll Administration
$105,295
4%
Leadership
$105,295
4%
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Lead Payroll Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Lead Payroll Specialist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 10% above the average. In contrast, Lead Payroll Specialist positions in Biotechnology or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Lead Payroll Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Lead Payroll Specialist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$111,370$54.010%

Lead Payroll Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Lead 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 Lead Payroll Specialist

Salaries for a Lead Payroll Specialist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $97,784 in 2023 to around $97,759 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Lead Payroll Specialist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Lead Payroll Specialist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$97,784
2024
$98,089
2025
$97,759
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $97,784
2024 $98,089
2025 $97,759
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Lead Payroll Specialist

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

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

Find Your Next Lead Payroll Specialist Job

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

United States
  • ST VINCENT FAMILY SERVICES

    Columbus, OH

    ST VINCENT FAMILY SERVICES | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. SUMMARY. The Lead Treatment Specialist is responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of those we serve by coachin... more

    9 Days Ago

  • Ohio Gastroenterology Group

    Columbus, OH

    Ohio Gastroenterology Group | Columbus, OH

    Duties and ResponsibilitiesPrimary Job Functions: Develop and organize comprehensive day to day operations for physician liaisons, medical assistant, and f... more

    7 Days Ago

  • 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

    8 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

    5 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

    5 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

    11 Days Ago

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FAQ about Lead Payroll Specialist

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

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Lead Payroll Specialist roles, with salaries approximately 10% 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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