Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in Georgia (US state)
The median payroll specialist in Georgia (US state) earned $59,990 a year in May 2025[1], 3.0% above the US median of $58,260. That puts Georgia (US state) at #16 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-3051. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-16.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia (US state) | $39,590 | $59,990 | $76,790 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Georgia (US state) earns $48,760–$69,990; the top tenth earns $76,790 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 Georgia (US state) median that makes about $85,700 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 Georgia (US state)
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warner Robins, GA | $63,320 | 60 | |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $69,990 | 4,260 | |
| Savannah, GA | $65,770 | 200 | |
| Hinesville, GA | $63,110 | 40 | |
| Gainesville, GA | $66,020 | 110 | |
| Rome, GA | $56,660 | n/a | |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $62,400 | 130 | |
| East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $63,340 | 80 | |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $62,450 | 100 | |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $63,500 | 50 | |
| North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $62,900 | 150 | |
| Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $62,630 | 120 | |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $61,740 | 80 | |
| Albany, GA | $60,900 | 50 | |
| South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $62,630 | 200 | |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $60,210 | 390 | |
| Dalton, GA | $61,100 | 60 | |
| Valdosta, GA | $60,570 | 60 |
Warner Robins, GA pays the most ($62,880) and Valdosta, GA the least ($49,750): $13,130 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 Georgia (US state) |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | +1.3% | |
| North Dakota | +1.0% | |
| Georgia (US state) | +0.0% | |
| Maryland | -0.4% | |
| Rhode Island | -1.0% |
Questions
How much does a payroll specialist earn in Georgia (US state)?
The median was $59,990 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $48,760 to $69,990.
What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in Georgia (US state)?
About $85,700 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Georgia (US state) do payroll specialists earn the most?
Warner Robins, GA, with a median of $62,880 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. Data checked 2026-10-16.