Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in Massachusetts
The median payroll specialist in Massachusetts earned $63,670 a year in May 2025[1], 9.3% above the US median of $58,260. That puts Massachusetts at #5 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $49,110 | $63,670 | $86,360 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Massachusetts earns $54,890–$77,960; the top tenth earns $86,360 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 Massachusetts median that makes about $90,957 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 Massachusetts
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $79,440 | 2,500 | |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $82,810 | 60 | |
| Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $76,800 | 30 | |
| Worcester, MA | $72,430 | 260 | |
| Pittsfield, MA | $70,200 | 60 | |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $71,510 | 60 | |
| Springfield, MA | $66,530 | 220 |
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH pays the most ($66,930) and Springfield, MA the least ($58,440): $8,490 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 Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | +1.4% | |
| Colorado | +0.7% | |
| Massachusetts | +0.0% | |
| New Hampshire | -0.9% | |
| Alaska | -2.3% |
Questions
How much does a payroll specialist earn in Massachusetts?
The median was $63,670 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $54,890 to $77,960.
What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in Massachusetts?
About $90,957 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Massachusetts do payroll specialists earn the most?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, with a median of $66,930 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.