Payroll Specialist salary in Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh is a lower-cost market for payroll specialists: the median of $52,400 a year1 is 5.9% below the Pennsylvania statewide median of $55,690, and 10.1% below the US median of $58,260. Among US areas it comes in at #288 of 486. About 1,130 payroll specialists work here, 22% of the Pennsylvania total.
BLS occupation 43-3051, area Pittsburgh, PA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Pittsburgh against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | $40,630 | $52,400 | $76,970 | |
| Pennsylvania | $39,630 | $55,690 | $76,980 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
Payroll specialists at the 90th percentile earn $76,970, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of payroll specialists in Pittsburgh earns $45,410–$64,290. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $18,880 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 | $40,630 | $3,386 | $19.53 | $52,426 |
| 25th percentile | $45,410 | $3,784 | $21.83 | $58,594 |
| Median | $52,400 | $4,367 | $25.19 | $67,613 |
| 75th percentile | $64,290 | $5,358 | $30.91 | $82,955 |
| 90th percentile | $76,970 | $6,414 | $37.00 | $99,316 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $11,890 over the median, the 25th only $6,990 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $15,342 a year in employer cost. 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 median and the 75th percentile in Pittsburgh, and the Pennsylvania statewide median of $55,690 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Pittsburgh
At the $52,400 median, a local hire costs about $67,613 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $15,213 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 Pittsburgh
Of the 17 roles we track in Pittsburgh, this one ranks #9 by median pay, between marketing specialists ($63,190) and bookkeepers ($47,250). Project Coordinator is the highest at $99,320.
| Role | Median | vs payroll specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office Manager | +20.7% | 10,440 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +20.6% | 4,940 | |
| Payroll Specialist | this role | 1,130 | |
| Bookkeeper | -9.8% | 9,250 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -11.1% | 450 |
Measured against the US median, payroll specialists rank #15 of the 17 roles we track in Pittsburgh (-10.1%), between executive assistants (-9.9%) and recruiters (-14.1%). The typical role here is at -6.7%, so, measured against the US, payroll specialists cost less in Pittsburgh than the area's general pay level would suggest. Payroll specialists hold 1.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Pittsburgh, 0.9% across Pennsylvania and 1.0% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
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. The one area in Pennsylvania with more payroll specialists, Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ ($58,810), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs Pittsburgh | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erie, PA | +4.8% | 80 | |
| York-Hanover, PA | +3.0% | 170 | |
| Reading, PA | +2.4% | 150 | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | this area | 1,130 | |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | -0.3% | 80 | |
| Central Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | -0.4% | 150 | |
| Lebanon, PA | -0.8% | 50 |
Pittsburgh against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Pittsburgh is #30 of 482 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Pennsylvania, Clarksville and St. George pay just above Pittsburgh and Columbia and Monroe just below. All four are within $210 a year of the median in Pittsburgh. Of the three markets with about as many payroll specialists, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Pittsburgh | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | +12.6% | 1,200 | jobs | |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY | +9.8% | 1,030 | jobs | |
| St. George, UT | +0.2% | 60 | pay | |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | +0.0% | 100 | pay | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | this area | 1,130 | ||
| Columbia, SC | -0.3% | 220 | pay | |
| Monroe, MI | -0.4% | 40 | pay | |
| Oklahoma City, OK | -8.7% | 1,170 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a payroll specialist in Pittsburgh, PA?
About $67,613 a year at the median, or $5,634 a month: $52,400 in pay plus about $15,213 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for payroll specialists in Pittsburgh?
The median was $52,400 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $40,630, the 90th $76,970, and the middle half earned $45,410 to $64,290.
Is Pittsburgh cheaper than the rest of Pennsylvania for payroll specialists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $52,400 against $55,690 statewide. The next area up in Pennsylvania is Reading at $53,680, the next down the Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area at $52,240.
How many payroll specialists work in Pittsburgh?
BLS counts about 1,130 in the May 2025 survey. That is 22% of the Pennsylvania total of 5,170. Only Philadelphia-Camden has more in Pennsylvania.
Does a payroll specialist cost more than a bookkeeper in Pittsburgh?
Yes: $5,150 a year more at the median. The medians are $52,400 and $47,250.
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.