Salary AI Book a Demo

Payroll Compliance Analyst Salary in the United States

How much does a Payroll Compliance Analyst make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Payroll Compliance Analyst in the United States is $77,789 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $37.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $92,401
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $71,729 to $85,438
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $66,211
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Payroll Compliance Analyst Salaries

A Payroll Compliance Analyst'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 Payroll Compliance Analyst Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Payroll Compliance Analyst'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): $77,226
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $90,801
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $118,341
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $138,305
  • Expert (over 8 years): $160,217
Levels Salary
Payroll C... Level Payroll Compliance Analyst$77,226
Informati... Level Payroll Compliance Analyst$90,801
Informati... Level Payroll Compliance Analyst$118,341
Informati... Level Payroll Compliance Analyst$138,305
Informati... Level Payroll Compliance Analyst$160,217
View as Graph

How Do Payroll Compliance Analyst 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 Payroll Compliance Analysts. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $86,128.
  • California: $85,801.
  • Massachusetts: $84,657.

Top Paying Cities for Payroll Compliance Analysts

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: $98,115
  • San Francisco: $97,041
  • Oakland: $94,995

What Skills Can Increase a Payroll Compliance Analyst's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 6.75% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Computer Science (Mentioned in 2.87% Job Postings): Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines.
  • Risk Assessment (Mentioned in 2% Job Postings): Broadly speaking, a risk assessment is the combined effort of: identifying and analyzing potential (future) events that may negatively impact individuals, assets, and/or the environment (i.e. risk analysis); and making judgments "on the tolerability of the risk on the basis of a risk analysis" while considering influencing factors (i.e. risk evaluation).Put in simpler terms, a risk assessment analyzes what can go wrong, how likely it is to happen, what the potential consequences are, and how tolerable the identified risk is. As part of this process, the resulting determination of risk may be expressed in a quantitative or qualitative fashion. The risk assessment is an inherent part of an overall risk management strategy, which attempts to, after a risk assessment, "introduce control measures to eliminate or reduce" any potential risk-related consequences.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 6.75%
Computer Science 2.87%
Risk Assessment 2%
See More Skills

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 Compliance Analyst's salary.

  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Program Management: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Cybersecurity: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Insight $81,678
5%
Program Management $81,678
5%
Cybersecurity $80,900
4%
Get Latest Data

Payroll Compliance Analyst Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Payroll Compliance Analyst roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Payroll Compliance Analyst positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Payroll Compliance Analyst as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Payroll Compliance Analyst

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$93,346$45.020%
Energy & Utilities$89,457$43.015%
Aerospace & Defense$85,567$41.010%
Chemicals$85,567$41.010%
Internet$85,567$41.010%

Payroll Compliance Analyst Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Payroll Compliance Analyst'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 September 01, 2026
$71,729
Average $77,789/year
$85,438
$5,977
Average $6,482/month
$7,120
$1,379
Average $1,496/week
$1,643
$34
Average $37/hour
$41
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $85,438 $7,120 $1,643 $41
Average $77,789 $6,482 $1,496 $37
25th Percentile $71,729 $5,977 $1,379 $34

Most common benefits for Payroll Compliance Analyst

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Payroll Compliance Analyst

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

Find Your Next Payroll Compliance Analyst Job

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

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Payroll Compliance Analyst

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Payroll Compliance Analyst?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Payroll Compliance Analyst roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst