Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in North Carolina
The median payroll specialist in North Carolina earned $53,550 a year in May 2025[1], 8.1% below the US median of $58,260. That puts North Carolina at #36 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | $36,620 | $53,550 | $74,480 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in North Carolina earns $45,680–$62,650; the top tenth earns $74,480 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 North Carolina median that makes about $76,500 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
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Pay by metro area in North Carolina
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $66,540 | 970 | |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $64,410 | 190 | |
| Burlington, NC | $67,060 | 50 | |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $66,530 | 240 | |
| Asheville, NC | $63,260 | 120 | |
| Greenville, NC | $61,620 | 40 | |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $65,190 | 590 | |
| Fayetteville, NC | $59,700 | 140 | |
| Wilmington, NC | $58,800 | 130 | |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $59,710 | 90 | |
| Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $56,430 | 180 | |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $61,520 | 220 | |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $58,060 | 50 | |
| Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $55,990 | 200 | |
| Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $56,160 | 150 | |
| Jacksonville, NC | $51,690 | 30 |
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC pays the most ($57,650) and Jacksonville, NC the least ($45,700): $11,950 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 North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri | +1.0% | |
| Indiana | +0.4% | |
| North Carolina | +0.0% | |
| New Mexico | -0.6% | |
| Kentucky | -1.2% |
Questions
How much does a payroll specialist earn in North Carolina?
The median was $53,550 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $45,680 to $62,650.
What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in North Carolina?
About $76,500 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in North Carolina do payroll specialists earn the most?
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC, with a median of $57,650 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.