Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in Connecticut
The median payroll specialist in Connecticut earned $62,200 a year in May 2025[1], 6.8% above the US median of $58,260. That puts Connecticut at #8 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $47,120 | $62,200 | $83,950 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Connecticut earns $55,010–$74,480; the top tenth earns $83,950 or more, 1.8 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 Connecticut median that makes about $88,857 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 Connecticut
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Haven, CT | $78,470 | 250 | |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $77,960 | 310 | |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $72,870 | 590 | |
| Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $69,860 | 70 | |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $67,840 | 160 | |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $72,510 | 100 |
New Haven, CT pays the most ($65,190) and Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT the least ($60,230): $4,960 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 Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | +1.4% | |
| Alaska | +0.0% | |
| Connecticut | +0.0% | |
| Hawaii | -0.2% | |
| Illinois | -1.3% |
Questions
How much does a payroll specialist earn in Connecticut?
The median was $62,200 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $55,010 to $74,480.
What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in Connecticut?
About $88,857 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Connecticut do payroll specialists earn the most?
New Haven, CT, with a median of $65,190 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.