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Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in Oklahoma

The median payroll specialist in Oklahoma earned $49,920 a year in May 2025[1], 14.3% below the US median of $58,260. That puts Oklahoma at #46 of 51 states for this job.

$4,160median pay per month in Oklahoma
$5,943employer cost per month with benefits
$24.00median pay per hour
2,470people in this job in Oklahoma

BLS occupation 43-3051. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.

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Salary range

Range10thMedian90th
Oklahoma$32,410$49,920$74,190
United States$39,500$58,260$81,350
10th to 90th percentilemiddle half (25th to 75th)median

The middle half of payroll specialists in Oklahoma earns $39,900–$62,200; the top tenth earns $74,190 or more, 2.3 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 Oklahoma median that makes about $71,314 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].

$71,314local hire, first year incl. benefits
-remote hire, first year incl. fee
-difference in year one
-of the local cost saved

Pay by metro area in Oklahoma

AreaMedian75th percentileJobs
Tulsa, OK
$52,710
$63,750520
Lawton, OK
$49,940
$57,69060
Oklahoma City, OK
$47,830
$61,3501,170
Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area
$46,190
$56,000270
Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area
$45,730
$57,760130
Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area
$44,130
$51,10060
Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area
$44,030
$57,090110

Tulsa, OK pays the most ($52,710) and Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area the least ($44,030): $8,680 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

StateMedianvs Oklahoma
Louisiana
$50,800
+1.8%
Arizona
$50,210
+0.6%
Oklahoma
$49,920
+0.0%
South Dakota
$47,680
-4.5%
West Virginia
$47,460
-4.9%

Questions

How much does a payroll specialist earn in Oklahoma?

The median was $49,920 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $39,900 to $62,200.

What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in Oklahoma?

About $71,314 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).

Where in Oklahoma do payroll specialists earn the most?

Tulsa, OK, with a median of $52,710 a year.

Other roles in Oklahoma

Hire payroll specialists remotely

How to hire payroll specialists

Sources

  1. BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3051: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes433051.htm
  2. BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
  3. Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
  4. Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/

How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.