Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in New Hampshire
The median payroll specialist in New Hampshire earned $63,090 a year in May 2025[1], 8.3% above the US median of $58,260. That puts New Hampshire at #6 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $42,220 | $63,090 | $87,140 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in New Hampshire earns $52,710–$74,630; the top tenth earns $87,140 or more, 2.1 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 New Hampshire median that makes about $90,129 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 New Hampshire
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $73,160 | 230 | |
| Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $72,850 | 40 | |
| Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $71,700 | 70 | |
| Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $71,700 | 110 |
Manchester-Nashua, NH pays the most ($62,050) and Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area the least ($59,800): $2,250 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 New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | +1.7% | |
| Massachusetts | +0.9% | |
| New Hampshire | +0.0% | |
| Alaska | -1.4% | |
| Connecticut | -1.4% |
Questions
How much does a payroll specialist earn in New Hampshire?
The median was $63,090 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $52,710 to $74,630.
What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in New Hampshire?
About $90,129 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in New Hampshire do payroll specialists earn the most?
Manchester-Nashua, NH, with a median of $62,050 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.