As of April 22, 2025, the average annual salary for a Certified Payroll Specialist in the United Kingdom is $72,946, with an hourly rate of $35, according to Salary.com Global Salary IQ data. The average salary ranges from $66,121 to $78,284, influenced by factors like location, education, experience, and more.

Global Market Data
25TH   $66,121
50TH(Median)   $72,946
75TH   $78,284
Certified Payroll Specialist Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
25th Percentile Certified Payroll Specialist Salary $66,121 United Kingdom April 22, 2025
50th Percentile Certified Payroll Specialist Salary $72,946 United Kingdom April 22, 2025
75th Percentile Certified Payroll Specialist Salary $78,284 United Kingdom April 22, 2025

Unlock Intelligence on Your Competitors' Salaries Across 35 Countries

Real-time global intelligence that empowers you to make competitive pay decisions and align offers with global trends.

SalaryIQTM

How Much Does a Certified Payroll Specialist Make by Hour, Week, Month, and Year?

Last Updated on April 22, 2025

Salary.com provides you with accurate and diversified Certified Payroll Specialist salary data based on specialized databases to help you get a fairer salary. The average annual pay for a Certified Payroll Specialist is about $72,946 a year, this translates to an approximate hourly rate of $35, a monthly salary of about $6,079, and a weekly pay of around $1,403. Click the switch button below to see more details about Certified Payroll Specialist hourly pay, weekly pay, monthly pay, and so on.

How Much Do Certified Payroll Specialists Earn at Different Levels in 2025?

A Certified Payroll Specialist's salary varies significantly based on experience level. Entry typically earn $66,426 - $70,705, while Intermediate make $67,038 - $71,214, Senior earn $67,954 - $71,927, Specialist earn $69,380 - $73,105, Expert can reach $71,214 - $74,539 or more, depending on the company and location.

Levels Salary
Entry Level Certified Payroll Specialist $69,380
Intermediate Level Certified Payroll Specialist $69,890
Senior Level Certified Payroll Specialist $70,705
Specialist Level Certified Payroll Specialist $71,927
Expert Level Certified Payroll Specialist $73,503
$69,380 0 yr
$69,890 < 2 yrs
$70,705 2-4 yrs
$71,927 5-8 yrs
$73,503 > 8 yrs
Entry Level 5%
Intermediate Level 4%
Senior Level 3%
Specialist Level 1%
Expert Level 1%
View as Table
View as Graph
Last Updated on April 22, 2025

What are the Highest Paying Cities in the United Kingdom for Certified Payroll Specialist?

The top 3 highest-paying cities in the United Kingdom for Certified Payroll Specialist are London, Brighton and Hove, and Manchester. In London, the average salary is $78,781 per year, while Brighton and Hove offers $73,488, and Manchester pays around $69,922 annually.

Which Job Pays More: Payroll Specialist or Certified Payroll Specialist?

As of April 22, 2025 , a Payroll Specialist makes less than a Certified Payroll Specialist. A Payroll Specialist earns an average annual salary of $36,490. And a Certified Payroll Specialist earns an average annual salary of $72,946.

Job Title Salary Range in GBP
Payroll Specialist
$30,112
$42,219
Payroll Clerk
$29,804
$41,788
Payroll Manager
$56,488
$90,462
Payroll Supervisor
$49,070
$71,966
Payroll Administrator II
$38,684
$61,704

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

Frequently Asked Questions about Certified Payroll Specialist Salaries

1. What is the highest salary for a payroll specialist?

The majority of Senior Payroll Specialist salaries across the United States currently range between $59,000 (25th percentile) and $80,500 (75th percentile) annually.

2. Is payroll a good career in the UK?

Payroll offers competitive compensation at all career levels. Entry-level administrators typically earn between £20,000 and £27,000, while experienced specialists can command £30,000 and above. Payroll managers often earn up to £50,000, with directors in larger organisations receiving significantly more.

3. How do I become a payroll specialist UK?

Employers will expect you to have GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including maths. While experience in payroll is not always essential to start, a background in bookkeeping or accounts could help improve your job prospects.

4. What does an entry level payroll specialist do?

Overall Responsibilities Process and peer audit employee payroll data, payments, and hours. Calculate and process time cards and corrections. Systematically record maintenance including new hire setup, tax form processing, timekeeping input, benefits setup, terminations, garnishments, and other functions as needed.

5. How much do payroll specialists make in the UK?

The estimated total pay for a Payroll Specialist is £31,600 per year, with an average salary of £29,883 per year. This number represents the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users.

6. What is the highest position in payroll?

Director of Payroll. The Director of Payroll is the primary leader of the payroll department, responsible for managing all aspects of payroll processing, compliance, and strategy.