Payroll Specialist salary in Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ
Philadelphia-Camden is the most expensive place in Pennsylvania to hire a payroll specialist. The median is $58,810 a year1, 5.6% above the Pennsylvania statewide median of $55,690 and about level with the US median of $58,260. Nationally it ranks #123 of 486 areas. It is the largest market for the job in Pennsylvania: about 2,410 people.
BLS occupation 43-3051, area Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Philadelphia-Camden against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | $42,150 | $58,810 | $81,570 | |
| Pennsylvania | $39,630 | $55,690 | $76,980 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
Payroll specialists at the 90th percentile earn $81,570, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of payroll specialists in Philadelphia-Camden earns $49,540–$70,380. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $20,840 wide, between the figure for Pennsylvania ($18,050) 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 | $42,150 | $3,512 | $20.26 | $54,387 |
| 25th percentile | $49,540 | $4,128 | $23.82 | $63,923 |
| Median | $58,810 | $4,901 | $28.27 | $75,884 |
| 75th percentile | $70,380 | $5,865 | $33.84 | $90,813 |
| 90th percentile | $81,570 | $6,798 | $39.22 | $105,252 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $9,270 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $11,570, or about $14,929 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 25th percentile and the median in Philadelphia-Camden, and the Pennsylvania statewide median of $55,690 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Philadelphia-Camden
At the $58,810 median, a local hire costs about $75,884 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $17,074 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 Philadelphia-Camden
Of the 17 roles we track in Philadelphia-Camden, this one ranks #9 by median pay, between paralegals ($70,430) and bookkeepers ($52,710). Project Coordinator is the highest at $104,160.
| Role | Median | vs payroll specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +20.8% | 19,260 | |
| Paralegal | +19.8% | 11,150 | |
| Payroll Specialist | this role | 2,410 | |
| Bookkeeper | -10.4% | 22,660 | |
| HR Assistant | -13.6% | 1,630 |
Measured against the US median, payroll specialists rank #13 of the 17 roles we track in Philadelphia-Camden (+0.9%), between recruiters (+1.0%) and marketing specialists (+0.8%). The typical role here is at +2.6%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Payroll specialists hold 0.8% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Philadelphia-Camden, 0.9% across Pennsylvania and 1.0% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Pennsylvania
Across the 18 areas of Pennsylvania with data for this job, the median runs from $47,420 in Johnstown to $58,810 in Philadelphia-Camden, a gap of $11,390 a year. No other area in Pennsylvania has as many payroll specialists, and all 17 others pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Philadelphia-Camden | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | this area | 2,410 | |
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | -1.8% | 260 | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | -2.2% | 220 | |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | -5.3% | 150 | |
| Lancaster, PA | -6.2% | 250 | |
| Erie, PA | -6.6% | 80 | |
| York-Hanover, PA | -8.2% | 170 |
Philadelphia-Camden against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Philadelphia-Camden is #10 of 482 US areas, one of the ten largest markets for this job. Outside Pennsylvania, Yuba City and Mankato pay just above Philadelphia-Camden and Pittsfield and Amherst Town-Northampton just below. All four are within $90 a year of the median in Philadelphia-Camden. Of the three markets with about as many payroll specialists, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Philadelphia-Camden | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland, CA | +36.9% | 2,260 | jobs | |
| Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH | +13.8% | 2,500 | jobs | |
| Mankato, MN | +0.1% | 60 | pay | |
| Yuba City, CA | +0.1% | 70 | pay | |
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | this area | 2,410 | ||
| Pittsfield, MA | -0.1% | 60 | pay | |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | -0.2% | 60 | pay | |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL | -14.2% | 2,300 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a payroll specialist in Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ?
About $75,884 a year at the median, or $6,324 a month: $58,810 in pay plus about $17,074 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for payroll specialists in Philadelphia-Camden?
The median was $58,810 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $42,150, the 90th $81,570, and the middle half earned $49,540 to $70,380.
Is Philadelphia-Camden the most expensive area in Pennsylvania for payroll specialists?
Yes. Its median of $58,810 is the highest of 18 areas in Pennsylvania. Allentown-Bethlehem comes next at $57,780.
How many payroll specialists work in Philadelphia-Camden?
BLS counts about 2,410 in the May 2025 survey. No other area in Pennsylvania has as many.
Does a payroll specialist cost more than a bookkeeper in Philadelphia-Camden?
Yes: $6,100 a year more at the median. The medians are $58,810 and $52,710.
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.