Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in New Jersey
The median payroll specialist in New Jersey earned $60,750 a year in May 2025[1], 4.3% above the US median of $58,260. That puts New Jersey at #14 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $42,990 | $60,750 | $84,990 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in New Jersey earns $50,440–$73,350; the top tenth earns $84,990 or more, 2.0 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 Jersey median that makes about $86,786 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 Jersey
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $67,120 | 210 | |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $65,160 | 140 | |
| Vineland, NJ | $60,520 | 80 |
Trenton-Princeton, NJ pays the most ($54,870) and Vineland, NJ the least ($50,790): $4,080 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 Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| New York | +0.5% | |
| Oregon | +0.4% | |
| New Jersey | +0.0% | |
| North Dakota | -0.2% | |
| Georgia (US state) | -1.3% |
Questions
How much does a payroll specialist earn in New Jersey?
The median was $60,750 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $50,440 to $73,350.
What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in New Jersey?
About $86,786 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in New Jersey do payroll specialists earn the most?
Trenton-Princeton, NJ, with a median of $54,870 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.