Payroll Specialist salary in Akron, OH
Hiring a payroll specialist costs less in Akron than in Ohio or the country as a whole. The median is $55,960 a year1: 2.3% below the Ohio statewide median of $57,270 and 3.9% below the US median of $58,260. Among US areas it comes in at #196 of 486. BLS counts about 330 people in this job here, 6% of the Ohio total.
BLS occupation 43-3051, area Akron, OH. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Akron against Ohio and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron, OH | $38,450 | $55,960 | $78,980 | |
| Ohio | $40,310 | $57,270 | $80,650 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Akron earns $46,420–$64,050. The top tenth earns $78,980 or more, 2.1 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.1 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $17,630 wide, against $19,400 across Ohio and $21,610 nationally: employers in Akron pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a payroll specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,450 | $3,204 | $18.49 | $49,613 |
| 25th percentile | $46,420 | $3,868 | $22.32 | $59,897 |
| Median | $55,960 | $4,663 | $26.90 | $72,206 |
| 75th percentile | $64,050 | $5,338 | $30.79 | $82,645 |
| 90th percentile | $78,980 | $6,582 | $37.97 | $101,910 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $8,090 a year in pay and about $10,439 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $9,540 in pay. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $58,260 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Akron, and the Ohio statewide median of $57,270 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Akron
At the $55,960 median, a local hire costs about $72,206 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $16,246 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for payroll specialists we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Akron
Of the 17 roles we track in Akron, this one ranks #9 by median pay, between sales development representatives ($58,050) and e-commerce order specialists ($51,060). Project Coordinator is the highest at $93,190.
| Role | Median | vs payroll specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | +7.7% | 410 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +3.7% | 2,380 | |
| Payroll Specialist | this role | 330 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -8.8% | 320 | |
| HR Assistant | -12.0% | 160 |
Measured against the US median, payroll specialists rank #7 of the 17 roles we track in Akron (-3.9%), between virtual receptionists (-3.5%) and paralegals (-4.1%). The typical role here is at -6.1%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Payroll specialists hold 1.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Akron, 1.1% across Ohio and 1.0% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Ohio
Across the 16 areas of Ohio with data for this job, the median runs from $45,470 in Springfield to $60,100 in Dayton-Kettering, a gap of $14,630 a year. All 3 areas in Ohio with more payroll specialists than Akron also pay more, among them Cleveland, OH ($59,110) and Columbus, OH ($59,010).
| Area | Median | vs Akron | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toledo, OH | +3.9% | 260 | |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY | +2.8% | 1,030 | |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | +1.4% | 170 | |
| Akron, OH | this area | 330 | |
| Lima, OH | -1.2% | 50 | |
| West Northwestern Ohio (Nonmetro) | -4.3% | 200 | |
| Eastern Ohio (Nonmetro) | -4.3% | 120 |
Akron against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Akron is #68 of 482 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Ohio, Odessa and Waco pay just above Akron and Nashville-Murfreesboro and Ogden just below. All four are within $80 a year of the median in Akron. Of the three markets with about as many payroll specialists, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Akron | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | +9.4% | 340 | jobs | |
| Waco, TX | +0.1% | 100 | pay | |
| Odessa, TX | +0.1% | 60 | pay | |
| Akron, OH | this area | 330 | ||
| Nashville-Murfreesboro, TN | +0.0% | 1,460 | pay | |
| Ogden, UT | +0.0% | 150 | pay | |
| Tucson, AZ | -12.3% | 330 | jobs | |
| Birmingham, AL | -13.5% | 340 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a payroll specialist in Akron, OH?
About $72,206 a year at the median, or $6,017 a month: $55,960 in pay plus about $16,246 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for payroll specialists in Akron?
The median was $55,960 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $38,450, the 90th $78,980, and the middle half earned $46,420 to $64,050.
Is Akron cheaper than the rest of Ohio for payroll specialists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $55,960 against $57,270 statewide. The next area up in Ohio is Canton-Massillon at $56,770, the next down Lima at $55,280.
How many payroll specialists work in Akron?
BLS counts about 330 in the May 2025 survey. That is 6% of the Ohio total of 5,820. 3 areas in Ohio have more; the closest in size is Cincinnati, with about 1,030.
Does a payroll specialist cost more than an e-commerce order specialist in Akron?
Yes: $4,900 a year more at the median. The medians are $55,960 and $51,060.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3051: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.