Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in Pennsylvania
The median payroll specialist in Pennsylvania earned $55,690 a year in May 2025[1], 4.4% below the US median of $58,260. That puts Pennsylvania at #28 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $39,630 | $55,690 | $76,980 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Pennsylvania earns $46,540–$64,590; the top tenth earns $76,980 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 Pennsylvania median that makes about $79,557 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 Pennsylvania
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $70,380 | 2,410 | |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $66,600 | 260 | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $66,410 | 220 | |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $62,580 | 150 | |
| Lancaster, PA | $63,620 | 250 | |
| Erie, PA | $61,850 | 80 | |
| York-Hanover, PA | $63,030 | 170 | |
| Reading, PA | $66,500 | 150 | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $64,290 | 1,130 | |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $61,200 | 80 | |
| Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $62,320 | 150 | |
| Lebanon, PA | $57,650 | 50 | |
| Chambersburg, PA | $61,030 | 40 | |
| Altoona, PA | $55,560 | 40 | |
| State College, PA | $61,990 | 70 | |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $60,540 | 180 | |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $59,450 | 70 | |
| Johnstown, PA | $58,310 | 40 |
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD pays the most ($58,810) and Johnstown, PA the least ($47,420): $11,390 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 Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | +1.3% | |
| Michigan | +0.8% | |
| Pennsylvania | +0.0% | |
| Vermont | -0.6% | |
| Montana | -1.2% |
Questions
How much does a payroll specialist earn in Pennsylvania?
The median was $55,690 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $46,540 to $64,590.
What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in Pennsylvania?
About $79,557 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Pennsylvania do payroll specialists earn the most?
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, with a median of $58,810 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.