Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in Oregon
The median payroll specialist in Oregon earned $60,980 a year in May 2025[1], 4.7% above the US median of $58,260. That puts Oregon at #13 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $42,430 | $60,980 | $82,080 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Oregon earns $51,690–$72,770; the top tenth earns $82,080 or more, 1.9 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 Oregon median that makes about $87,114 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 Oregon
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $73,060 | 1,850 | |
| Salem, OR | $73,740 | 290 | |
| Corvallis, OR | $70,770 | 30 | |
| Bend, OR | $73,240 | 160 | |
| Grants Pass, OR | $65,450 | 40 | |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | $70,660 | 220 | |
| Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $65,720 | 80 | |
| Albany, OR | $64,460 | 70 | |
| Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $65,160 | 170 | |
| Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $63,480 | 100 | |
| Medford, OR | $61,840 | 150 |
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA pays the most ($64,170) and Medford, OR the least ($53,530): $10,640 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 Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | +0.6% | |
| New York | +0.1% | |
| Oregon | +0.0% | |
| New Jersey | -0.4% | |
| North Dakota | -0.6% |
Questions
How much does a payroll specialist earn in Oregon?
The median was $60,980 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $51,690 to $72,770.
What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in Oregon?
About $87,114 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Oregon do payroll specialists earn the most?
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA, with a median of $64,170 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.