Payroll Specialist salary in Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC
Payroll specialists earn more in Charlotte-Concord than anywhere else in North Carolina. Expect a median of $57,650 a year1, 7.7% above the North Carolina statewide median of $53,550 and 1.0% below the US median of $58,260. Among US areas it comes in at #146 of 486. It is the largest market for the job in North Carolina: about 970 people.
BLS occupation 43-3051, area Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Charlotte-Concord against North Carolina and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | $42,130 | $57,650 | $78,580 | |
| North Carolina | $36,620 | $53,550 | $74,480 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Charlotte-Concord earns $49,170–$66,540. The top tenth earns $78,580 or more, 1.9 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.1 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $17,370 wide, between the figure for North Carolina ($16,970) 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 | $42,130 | $3,511 | $20.25 | $54,361 |
| 25th percentile | $49,170 | $4,098 | $23.64 | $63,445 |
| Median | $57,650 | $4,804 | $27.72 | $74,387 |
| 75th percentile | $66,540 | $5,545 | $31.99 | $85,858 |
| 90th percentile | $78,580 | $6,548 | $37.78 | $101,394 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $8,890 a year in pay and about $11,471 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $8,480 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 Charlotte-Concord, and the North Carolina statewide median of $53,550 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Charlotte-Concord
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 $16,737 to the $57,650 median and brings it to $74,387 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 Charlotte-Concord
Of the 17 roles we track in Charlotte-Concord, this one ranks #9 by median pay, between paralegals ($59,870) and bookkeepers ($50,800). Project Coordinator is the highest at $105,200.
| Role | Median | vs payroll specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +7.3% | 13,980 | |
| Paralegal | +3.9% | 4,140 | |
| Payroll Specialist | this role | 970 | |
| Bookkeeper | -11.9% | 11,740 | |
| HR Assistant | -13.7% | 780 |
Measured against the US median, payroll specialists rank #11 of the 17 roles we track in Charlotte-Concord (-1.0%), between medical administrative assistants (-0.6%) and administrative assistants (-1.6%). The typical role here is at +0.3%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Payroll specialists hold 0.6% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Charlotte-Concord, 0.7% across North Carolina and 1.0% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in North Carolina
Across the 16 areas of North Carolina with data for this job, the median runs from $45,700 in Jacksonville to $57,650 in Charlotte-Concord, a gap of $11,950 a year. No other area in North Carolina has as many payroll specialists, and all 15 others pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Charlotte-Concord | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | this area | 970 | |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | -2.2% | 190 | |
| Burlington, NC | -3.8% | 50 | |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | -4.7% | 240 | |
| Asheville, NC | -5.8% | 120 | |
| Greenville, NC | -6.0% | 40 | |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | -6.2% | 590 |
Charlotte-Concord against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Charlotte-Concord is #34 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 North Carolina, Springfield and Duluth pay just above Charlotte-Concord and El Centro and Cincinnati just below. All four are within $110 a year of the median in Charlotte-Concord. Of the three markets with about as many payroll specialists, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Charlotte-Concord | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale, CA | +35.2% | 1,000 | jobs | |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | +3.4% | 960 | jobs | |
| Duluth, MN-WI | +0.2% | 110 | pay | |
| Springfield, IL | +0.1% | 80 | pay | |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | this area | 970 | ||
| El Centro, CA | -0.1% | 100 | pay | |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY | -0.2% | 1,030 | pay | |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | -11.8% | 980 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a payroll specialist in Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC?
About $74,387 a year at the median, or $6,199 a month: $57,650 in pay plus about $16,737 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do payroll specialists earn in Charlotte-Concord?
The median was $57,650 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $42,130, the 90th $78,580, and the middle half earned $49,170 to $66,540.
Is Charlotte-Concord the most expensive area in North Carolina for payroll specialists?
Yes. Its median of $57,650 is the highest of 16 areas in North Carolina. Durham-Chapel Hill comes next at $56,400.
How many payroll specialists work in Charlotte-Concord?
BLS counts about 970 in the May 2025 survey. No other area in North Carolina has as many.
Does a payroll specialist cost more than a bookkeeper in Charlotte-Concord?
Yes: $6,850 a year more at the median. The medians are $57,650 and $50,800.
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.