Payroll Specialist salary in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
For this job New Orleans-Metairie sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $53,590 a year1. That is 5.5% above the Louisiana statewide median of $50,800, and 8.0% below the US median of $58,260. Nationally it ranks #254 of 486 areas. BLS counts about 480 people in this job here, 22% of the Louisiana total.
BLS occupation 43-3051, area New Orleans-Metairie, LA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in New Orleans-Metairie against Louisiana and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $31,570 | $53,590 | $73,050 | |
| Louisiana | $29,480 | $50,800 | $71,750 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
Pay is more spread out here than nationally: the top tenth earns $73,050 or more, 2.3 times the bottom tenth, against 2.1 times across the US. Two offers for the same title can sit far apart. The middle half of payroll specialists in New Orleans-Metairie earns $42,840–$64,100. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $21,260 wide, between the figure for Louisiana ($21,040) and the US figure ($21,610).
What to budget for a payroll specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $31,570 | $2,631 | $15.18 | $40,735 |
| 25th percentile | $42,840 | $3,570 | $20.60 | $55,277 |
| Median | $53,590 | $4,466 | $25.76 | $69,148 |
| 75th percentile | $64,100 | $5,342 | $30.82 | $82,710 |
| 90th percentile | $73,050 | $6,088 | $35.12 | $94,258 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $10,750 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $10,510, or about $13,561 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $58,260 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in New Orleans-Metairie, and the Louisiana statewide median of $50,800 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in New Orleans-Metairie
At the $53,590 median, a local hire costs about $69,148 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $15,558 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. 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 fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in New Orleans-Metairie
Of the 17 roles we track in New Orleans-Metairie, this one ranks #9 by median pay, between office managers ($60,270) and HR assistants ($49,570). Project Coordinator is the highest at $85,410.
| Role | Median | vs payroll specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Assistant | +12.7% | 1,920 | |
| Office Manager | +12.5% | 4,830 | |
| Payroll Specialist | this role | 480 | |
| HR Assistant | -7.5% | 190 | |
| Bookkeeper | -12.3% | 3,840 |
Measured against the US median, payroll specialists rank #7 of the 17 roles we track in New Orleans-Metairie (-8.0%), between bookkeepers (-7.3%) and administrative assistants (-9.9%). The typical role here is at -11.9%, so, measured against the US, payroll specialists cost more in New Orleans-Metairie than the area's general pay level would suggest. Payroll specialists hold 1.2% of the jobs in these 17 roles in New Orleans-Metairie, 1.3% across Louisiana and 1.0% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Louisiana
Across the 13 areas of Louisiana with data for this job, the median runs from $45,040 in the Southwest Louisiana nonmetro area to $54,580 in Baton Rouge, a gap of $9,540 a year. The one area in Louisiana with more payroll specialists, Baton Rouge, LA ($54,580), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs New Orleans-Metairie | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | +1.8% | 540 | |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | this area | 480 | |
| Slidell-Mandeville, LA | -4.5% | 100 | |
| Hammond, LA | -5.7% | 30 | |
| Lafayette, LA | -5.7% | 200 | |
| Lake Charles, LA | -6.4% | 110 | |
| Alexandria, LA | -8.0% | 60 |
New Orleans-Metairie against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, New Orleans-Metairie is #59 of 482 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Louisiana, Missoula and Jackson pay just above New Orleans-Metairie and Greenville-Anderson and Traverse City just below. All four are within $40 a year of the median in New Orleans-Metairie. Of the three markets with about as many payroll specialists, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs New Orleans-Metairie | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | +5.7% | 500 | jobs | |
| Jackson, MI | +0.1% | 50 | pay | |
| Missoula, MT | +0.0% | 60 | pay | |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | this area | 480 | ||
| Greenville-Anderson, SC | -0.1% | 280 | pay | |
| Traverse City, MI | -0.1% | 40 | pay | |
| Knoxville, TN | -1.3% | 500 | jobs | |
| El Paso, TX | -9.3% | 490 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a payroll specialist in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
About $69,148 a year at the median, or $5,762 a month: $53,590 in pay plus about $15,558 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for payroll specialists in New Orleans-Metairie?
The median was $53,590 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $31,570, the 90th $73,050, and the middle half earned $42,840 to $64,100.
Is New Orleans-Metairie cheaper than the rest of Louisiana for payroll specialists?
No, it costs more: a median of $53,590 against $50,800 statewide. The next area up in Louisiana is Baton Rouge at $54,580, the next down Slidell-Mandeville at $51,160.
How many payroll specialists work in New Orleans-Metairie?
BLS counts about 480 in the May 2025 survey. That is 22% of the Louisiana total of 2,160. Only Baton Rouge has more in Louisiana.
Does a payroll specialist cost more than an HR assistant in New Orleans-Metairie?
Yes: $4,020 a year more at the median. The medians are $53,590 and $49,570.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3051: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.