Payroll Specialist hourly rate
A senior Payroll Specialist typically receives $50 an hour as a part-time contractor in the United States, against a market median wage of $33.84. Below: percentiles and rates for every country we cover, by level and format.
Payroll Specialist pay in the United States
National wage percentiles for the role. Full United States page.
| Percentile | Per hour | 5 h a week, per month | Full time, per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22.94 | $500 | $47,700 |
| 25th | $27.87 | $600 | $58,000 |
| Median | $33.84 | $730 | $70,400 |
| 75th | $40.43 | $880 | $84,100 |
| 90th | $47.25 | $1,020 | $98,300 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025; aged to October 2026.
Payroll Specialist rates by country
| Country | 10th | Median wage | 90th | Contractor rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $22.94 | $33.84 | $47.25 | $50 |
| Canada | CA$21.84 | CA$32.75 | CA$47.24 | CA$45 |
| United Kingdom | £13.37 | £17.09 | £27.76 | £25 |
| Austria | €15.20 | €21.70 | €30.52 | €30 |
| Belgium | €15.93 | €25.90 | €36.98 | €40 |
| Bulgaria | €4.16 | €6.68 | €12.61 | €10 |
| Croatia | €7.90 | €11.77 | €17.72 | €17 |
| Cyprus | €7.03 | €10.69 | €22.55 | €16 |
| Czechia | €7.36 | €10.40 | €14.23 | €15 |
| Denmark | €23.96 | €31.73 | €39.92 | €45 |
| Estonia | €7.72 | €12.58 | €18.24 | €18 |
| Finland | €15.73 | €19.62 | €25.92 | €30 |
| France | €11.70 | €15.58 | €23.27 | €23 |
| Germany | €15.08 | €23.91 | €35.87 | €35 |
| Greece | €8.18 | €11.48 | €16.55 | €17 |
| Hungary | €6.36 | €9.86 | €15.93 | €14 |
| Ireland | €17.20 | €25.67 | €48.34 | €36 |
| Italy | €11.82 | €15.32 | €24.13 | €22 |
| Latvia | €6.01 | €10.34 | €17.31 | €15 |
| Lithuania | €8.01 | €12.39 | €19.50 | €18 |
| Luxembourg | €19.29 | €27.39 | €47.56 | €40 |
| Malta | €7.63 | €11.55 | €17.00 | €17 |
| Netherlands | €14.46 | €21.88 | €29.95 | €30 |
| Poland | €7.09 | €10.55 | €17.19 | €15 |
| Portugal | €7.49 | €8.68 | €16.89 | €13 |
| Romania | €5.03 | €7.55 | €13.81 | €11 |
| Slovakia | €6.50 | €9.11 | €12.81 | €13 |
| Slovenia | €10.64 | €13.90 | €20.26 | €20 |
| Spain | €9.75 | €13.36 | €21.38 | €19 |
| Sweden | €16.19 | €19.32 | €23.65 | €30 |
Hourly figures in local currency. Contractor rate is the typical Deftridge rate for a senior Payroll Specialist in the regular role format.
Payroll Specialist pay by US state
Typical contractor rate, highest first.
By level and format
United States. A manager earns 1.20 times the senior rate; a one-off task pays a higher hourly rate than a standing role because the work is fixed-scope.
| Level | Per hour |
|---|---|
| Specialist | $40 |
| Senior | $50 |
| Manager | $60 |
Questions about Payroll Specialist rates
What is the typical hourly rate for a Payroll Specialist?
In the United States the typical rate for a senior Payroll Specialist is $50 an hour (market median wage $33.84). Rates vary by country, state and level; the tables above list them.
Is this a salary?
No. The market median is an employee wage for reference. The Deftridge rate is what a part-time contractor in that role receives per hour, before tax.
How does level change the rate?
Levels scale the rate: specialist 0.85, senior 1.00, manager 1.20, director 1.45 and executive 1.75 of the senior rate, inside the country floor and cap.
How rates are built · Payroll Specialist jobs · Finance & Accounting