Payroll Specialist salary in Boise City, ID
Boise City pays payroll specialists more than Idaho as a whole but less than the country. The median is $53,420 a year1: 3.1% above the Idaho statewide median of $51,790 and 8.3% below the US median of $58,260. Nationally it ranks #263 of 486 areas. With about 390 payroll specialists, 49% of the Idaho total, no area in Idaho employs more.
BLS occupation 43-3051, area Boise City, ID. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Boise City against Idaho and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City, ID | $45,690 | $53,420 | $73,560 | |
| Idaho | $41,440 | $51,790 | $70,390 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Boise City earns $47,860–$64,900. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $73,560, 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 $17,040 wide, between the figure for Idaho ($16,340) and the US figure ($21,610).
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 | $45,690 | $3,808 | $21.97 | $58,955 |
| 25th percentile | $47,860 | $3,988 | $23.01 | $61,755 |
| Median | $53,420 | $4,452 | $25.68 | $68,929 |
| 75th percentile | $64,900 | $5,408 | $31.20 | $83,742 |
| 90th percentile | $73,560 | $6,130 | $35.37 | $94,916 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $11,480 over the median, the 25th only $5,560 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $14,813 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 Boise City, and the Idaho statewide median of $51,790 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Boise City
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 $15,509 to the $53,420 median and brings it to $68,929 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 Boise City
Of the 17 roles we track in Boise City, this one ranks #9 by median pay, between paralegals ($53,470) and HR assistants ($51,770). Project Coordinator is the highest at $98,580.
| Role | Median | vs payroll specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Assistant | +12.7% | 640 | |
| Paralegal | +0.1% | 1,140 | |
| Payroll Specialist | this role | 390 | |
| HR Assistant | -3.1% | 150 | |
| Bookkeeper | -7.0% | 4,190 |
Measured against the US median, payroll specialists rank #10 of the 17 roles we track in Boise City (-8.3%), between office managers (-6.7%) and accountants (-8.3%). The typical role here is at -6.7%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Payroll specialists hold 0.9% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Boise City, 1.0% across Idaho and 1.0% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Idaho
Across the 6 areas of Idaho with data for this job, the median runs from $46,340 in Twin Falls to $62,370 in Coeur d'Alene, a gap of $16,030 a year. No other area in Idaho has as many payroll specialists, and 4 of the other 5 pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Boise City | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | +16.8% | 80 | |
| Boise City, ID | this area | 390 | |
| Idaho Falls, ID | -6.8% | 60 | |
| Southeast-Central Idaho (Nonmetro) | -7.7% | 90 | |
| Northwestern Idaho (Nonmetro) | -9.4% | 50 | |
| Twin Falls, ID | -13.3% | 60 |
Boise City against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Boise City is #62 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 Idaho, Longview and Medford pay just above Boise City and Memphis and Muskegon-Norton Shores just below. All four are within $110 a year of the median in Boise City. Of the three markets with about as many payroll specialists, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Boise City | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provo-Orem, UT | +7.6% | 370 | jobs | |
| Medford, OR | +0.2% | 150 | pay | |
| Longview, TX | +0.1% | 110 | pay | |
| Boise City, ID | this area | 390 | ||
| Memphis, TN-MS | +0.0% | 520 | pay | |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | +0.0% | 40 | pay | |
| North Port-Bradenton, FL | -1.0% | 380 | jobs | |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | -3.6% | 390 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a payroll specialist in Boise City, ID?
About $68,929 a year at the median, or $5,744 a month: $53,420 in pay plus about $15,509 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do payroll specialists earn in Boise City?
The median was $53,420 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $45,690, the 90th $73,560, and the middle half earned $47,860 to $64,900.
Is Boise City cheaper than the rest of Idaho for payroll specialists?
No, it costs more: a median of $53,420 against $51,790 statewide. The next area up in Idaho is Coeur d'Alene at $62,370, the next down Idaho Falls at $49,810.
How many payroll specialists work in Boise City?
BLS counts about 390 in the May 2025 survey. That is 49% of the Idaho total of 800. No other area in Idaho has as many.
Does a payroll specialist cost more than an HR assistant in Boise City?
Yes: $1,650 a year more at the median. The medians are $53,420 and $51,770.
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.