Payroll Specialist salary in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
Augusta-Richmond County is a lower-cost market for payroll specialists: the median of $51,490 a year1 is 14.2% below the Georgia statewide median of $59,990, and 11.6% below the US median of $58,260. Among US areas it comes in at #308 of 486. BLS counts about 390 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 43-3051, area Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Augusta-Richmond County against Georgia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $40,770 | $51,490 | $64,710 | |
| Georgia (US state) | $39,590 | $59,990 | $76,790 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Augusta-Richmond County earns $49,310–$60,210. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $64,710, only 1.6 times the bottom tenth, against 2.1 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $10,900 wide, against $21,230 across Georgia and $21,610 nationally: employers in Augusta-Richmond County 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 | $40,770 | $3,398 | $19.60 | $52,606 |
| 25th percentile | $49,310 | $4,109 | $23.71 | $63,626 |
| Median | $51,490 | $4,291 | $24.75 | $66,439 |
| 75th percentile | $60,210 | $5,018 | $28.95 | $77,690 |
| 90th percentile | $64,710 | $5,392 | $31.11 | $83,497 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $8,720 over the median, the 25th only $2,180 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $11,252 a year in employer cost. 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 Augusta-Richmond County, and the Georgia statewide median of $59,990 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Augusta-Richmond County
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $14,949 to the $51,490 median and brings it to $66,439 a year. 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 Augusta-Richmond County
Of the 17 roles we track in Augusta-Richmond County, this one ranks #9 by median pay, between paralegals ($51,560) and bookkeepers ($46,450). Project Coordinator is the highest at $101,280.
| Role | Median | vs payroll specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +11.4% | 1,230 | |
| Paralegal | +0.1% | 420 | |
| Payroll Specialist | this role | 390 | |
| Bookkeeper | -9.8% | 1,640 | |
| HR Assistant | -16.7% | 110 |
Measured against the US median, payroll specialists rank #8 of the 17 roles we track in Augusta-Richmond County (-11.6%), between customer support specialists (-11.6%) and administrative assistants (-12.5%). The typical role here is at -12.5%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Payroll specialists hold 2.0% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Augusta-Richmond County, 1.3% across Georgia and 1.0% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Georgia
Across the 18 areas of Georgia with data for this job, the median runs from $49,750 in Valdosta to $62,880 in Warner Robins, a gap of $13,130 a year. The one area in Georgia with more payroll specialists, Atlanta-Sandy Springs, GA ($62,710), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs Augusta-Richmond County | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Georgia (Nonmetro) | +4.3% | 120 | |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | +2.8% | 80 | |
| Albany, GA | +1.3% | 50 | |
| South Georgia (Nonmetro) | +1.0% | 200 | |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | this area | 390 | |
| Dalton, GA | -1.4% | 60 | |
| Valdosta, GA | -3.4% | 60 |
Augusta-Richmond County against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Augusta-Richmond County is #61 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 Georgia, Mansfield and Watertown-Fort Drum pay just above Augusta-Richmond County and Wilmington and Deltona-Daytona Beach just below. All four are within $140 a year of the median in Augusta-Richmond County. Of the three markets with about as many payroll specialists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Augusta-Richmond County | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provo-Orem, UT | +11.6% | 370 | jobs | |
| Boise City, ID | +3.7% | 390 | jobs | |
| North Port-Bradenton, FL | +2.8% | 380 | jobs | |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | +0.3% | 40 | pay | |
| Mansfield, OH | +0.1% | 40 | pay | |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | this area | 390 | ||
| Wilmington, NC | -0.0% | 130 | pay | |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach, FL | -0.2% | 150 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a payroll specialist in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC?
About $66,439 a year at the median, or $5,537 a month: $51,490 in pay plus about $14,949 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do payroll specialists earn in Augusta-Richmond County?
The median was $51,490 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $40,770, the 90th $64,710, and the middle half earned $49,310 to $60,210.
Is Augusta-Richmond County cheaper than the rest of Georgia for payroll specialists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $51,490 against $59,990 statewide. The next area up in Georgia is the South Georgia nonmetro area at $52,000, the next down Dalton at $50,780.
How many payroll specialists work in Augusta-Richmond County?
BLS counts about 390 in the May 2025 survey. Only Atlanta-Sandy Springs has more in Georgia.
Does a payroll specialist cost more than a bookkeeper in Augusta-Richmond County?
Yes: $5,040 a year more at the median. The medians are $51,490 and $46,450.
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.