Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in Colorado
The median payroll specialist in Colorado earned $64,140 a year in May 2025[1], 10.1% above the US median of $58,260. That puts Colorado at #4 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-3051. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $46,590 | $64,140 | $88,050 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Colorado earns $51,650–$76,040; the top tenth earns $88,050 or more, 1.9 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Colorado median that makes about $91,629 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in Colorado
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $78,350 | 100 | |
| Boulder, CO | $69,320 | n/a | |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $79,770 | 1,580 | |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $71,280 | 210 | |
| Pueblo, CO | $65,220 | 30 | |
| Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $69,160 | 40 | |
| Greeley, CO | $70,580 | 110 | |
| Grand Junction, CO | $69,700 | 50 | |
| Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $61,560 | 130 |
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO pays the most ($67,710) and Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area the least ($46,590): $21,120 a year apart for the same job.
What a payroll specialist does
A payroll specialist prepares payroll runs, checks hours and deductions, keeps employee pay records and answers staff questions about their pay.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| California | +1.9% | |
| Washington | +0.7% | |
| Colorado | +0.0% | |
| Massachusetts | -0.7% | |
| New Hampshire | -1.6% |
Questions
How much does a payroll specialist earn in Colorado?
The median was $64,140 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $51,650 to $76,040.
What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in Colorado?
About $91,629 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Colorado do payroll specialists earn the most?
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO, with a median of $67,710 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3051: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes433051.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.