Payroll Specialist salary in Cleveland, OH
Budget above the national rate here. The median payroll specialist in Cleveland earned $59,110 a year in May 20251, 3.2% above the Ohio statewide median of $57,270 and 1.5% above the US median of $58,260. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#115 of 486). It is the largest market for the job in Ohio: about 1,370 people, 24% of the Ohio total.
BLS occupation 43-3051, area Cleveland, OH. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Cleveland against Ohio and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OH | $44,370 | $59,110 | $83,710 | |
| Ohio | $40,310 | $57,270 | $80,650 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Cleveland earns $48,510–$69,190. The top tenth earns $83,710 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 $20,680 wide, between the figure for Ohio ($19,400) 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 | $44,370 | $3,698 | $21.33 | $57,252 |
| 25th percentile | $48,510 | $4,042 | $23.32 | $62,594 |
| Median | $59,110 | $4,926 | $28.42 | $76,271 |
| 75th percentile | $69,190 | $5,766 | $33.26 | $89,277 |
| 90th percentile | $83,710 | $6,976 | $40.25 | $108,013 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $10,600 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $10,080, or about $13,006 once benefits are added. 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 25th percentile and the median in Cleveland, and the Ohio statewide median of $57,270 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Cleveland
At the $59,110 median, a local hire costs about $76,271 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $17,161 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 Cleveland
Of the 17 roles we track in Cleveland, this one ranks #9 by median pay, between sales development representatives ($59,830) and bookkeepers ($48,860). Project Coordinator is the highest at $95,000.
| Role | Median | vs payroll specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | +3.1% | 2,960 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +1.2% | 7,710 | |
| Payroll Specialist | this role | 1,370 | |
| Bookkeeper | -17.3% | 8,660 | |
| HR Assistant | -17.5% | 650 |
Measured against the US median, payroll specialists rank #3 of the 17 roles we track in Cleveland (+1.5%), between e-commerce order specialists (+2.6%) and medical administrative assistants (-0.0%). The typical role here is at -3.7%, so, measured against the US, payroll specialists cost more in Cleveland than the area's general pay level would suggest. Payroll specialists hold 1.3% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Cleveland, 1.1% across Ohio and 1.0% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
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. No other area in Ohio has as many payroll specialists, and 13 of the other 15 pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Cleveland | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton-Kettering, OH | +1.7% | 320 | |
| Sandusky, OH | +0.6% | 40 | |
| Cleveland, OH | this area | 1,370 | |
| Columbus, OH | -0.2% | 1,200 | |
| Toledo, OH | -1.6% | 260 | |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY | -2.7% | 1,030 | |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | -4.0% | 170 |
Cleveland against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Cleveland is #26 of 482 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job and one of the better-paying ones. Outside Ohio, St. Louis and Salisbury pay just above Cleveland and Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie and Grand Forks just below. All four are within $100 a year of the median in Cleveland. Of the three markets with about as many payroll specialists, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Cleveland | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren, MI | +0.8% | 1,450 | jobs | |
| Salisbury, MD | +0.2% | 50 | pay | |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | +0.1% | 1,530 | pay | |
| Cleveland, OH | this area | 1,370 | ||
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie, NY | +0.0% | 250 | pay | |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | -0.2% | 40 | pay | |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | -4.3% | 1,260 | jobs | |
| Nashville-Murfreesboro, TN | -5.3% | 1,460 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a payroll specialist in Cleveland, OH?
About $76,271 a year at the median, or $6,356 a month: $59,110 in pay plus about $17,161 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for payroll specialists in Cleveland?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $59,110 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $44,370, the 90th $83,710, and the middle half earned $48,510 to $69,190.
Is Cleveland cheaper than the rest of Ohio for payroll specialists?
No, it costs more: a median of $59,110 against $57,270 statewide. The next area up in Ohio is Sandusky at $59,450, the next down Columbus at $59,010.
How many payroll specialists work in Cleveland?
BLS counts about 1,370 in the May 2025 survey. That is 24% of the Ohio total of 5,820. No other area in Ohio has as many.
Does a payroll specialist cost more than a bookkeeper in Cleveland?
Yes: $10,250 a year more at the median. The medians are $59,110 and $48,860.
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.