Payroll Specialist salary in Provo-Orem, UT
Payroll specialists earn more in Provo-Orem than anywhere else in Utah. Expect a median of $57,470 a year1, 1.8% above the Utah statewide median of $56,430 and 1.4% below the US median of $58,260. Nationally it ranks #153 of 486 areas. BLS counts about 370 people in this job here, 23% of the Utah total.
BLS occupation 43-3051, area Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Provo-Orem against Utah and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provo-Orem, UT | $41,720 | $57,470 | $74,160 | |
| Utah | $43,400 | $56,430 | $74,530 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Provo-Orem earns $47,920–$66,350. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $74,160, only 1.8 times the bottom tenth, against 2.1 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $18,430 wide, between the figure for Utah ($15,180) 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 | $41,720 | $3,477 | $20.06 | $53,832 |
| 25th percentile | $47,920 | $3,993 | $23.04 | $61,832 |
| Median | $57,470 | $4,789 | $27.63 | $74,155 |
| 75th percentile | $66,350 | $5,529 | $31.90 | $85,613 |
| 90th percentile | $74,160 | $6,180 | $35.65 | $95,690 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $8,880 a year in pay and about $11,458 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $9,550 in pay. 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 Provo-Orem, and the Utah statewide median of $56,430 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Provo-Orem
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $16,685 to the $57,470 median and brings it to $74,155 a year. 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 Provo-Orem
Of the 16 roles we track in Provo-Orem, this one ranks #7 by median pay, between sales development representatives ($61,220) and executive assistants ($54,170). Project Coordinator is the highest at $88,180.
| Role | Median | vs payroll specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Specialist | +9.6% | 3,270 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +6.5% | 4,650 | |
| Payroll Specialist | this role | 370 | |
| Executive Assistant | -5.7% | 1,190 | |
| Paralegal | -16.8% | 450 |
Measured against the US median, this job is the best paid of the 16 roles we track in Provo-Orem (-1.4%); executive assistants come last (-29.3%). The typical role here is at -7.5%, so, measured against the US, payroll specialists cost more in Provo-Orem than the area's general pay level would suggest. Payroll specialists hold 1.0% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Provo-Orem, 0.8% across Utah and 1.0% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Utah
Across the 7 areas of Utah with data for this job, the median runs from $52,490 in St. George to $57,470 in Provo-Orem, a gap of $4,980 a year. The one area in Utah with more payroll specialists, Salt Lake City-Murray, UT ($56,430), pays less: a bigger pool at a lower median.
| Area | Median | vs Provo-Orem | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provo-Orem, UT | this area | 370 | |
| Wasatch Front Fringe Utah (Nonmetro) | -1.7% | 40 | |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | -1.8% | 850 | |
| Ogden, UT | -2.6% | 150 | |
| High Desert Utah (Nonmetro) | -5.8% | 80 | |
| Logan, UT-ID | -7.3% | 40 | |
| St. George, UT | -8.7% | 60 |
Provo-Orem against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Provo-Orem is #64 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 Utah, Harrisburg-Carlisle and Green Bay pay just above Provo-Orem and Miami-Fort Lauderdale and Rochester just below. All four are within $40 a year of the median in Provo-Orem. Of the three markets with about as many payroll specialists, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Provo-Orem | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | +10.5% | 360 | jobs | |
| Green Bay, WI | +0.1% | 150 | pay | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | +0.0% | 220 | pay | |
| Provo-Orem, UT | this area | 370 | ||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL | -0.0% | 2,750 | pay | |
| Rochester, NY | -0.1% | 590 | pay | |
| North Port-Bradenton, FL | -7.9% | 380 | jobs | |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | -10.4% | 390 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a payroll specialist in Provo-Orem, UT?
About $74,155 a year at the median, or $6,180 a month: $57,470 in pay plus about $16,685 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do payroll specialists earn in Provo-Orem?
The median was $57,470 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $41,720, the 90th $74,160, and the middle half earned $47,920 to $66,350.
Is Provo-Orem the most expensive area in Utah for payroll specialists?
Yes. Its median of $57,470 is the highest of 7 areas in Utah. The Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetro area comes next at $56,470.
How many payroll specialists work in Provo-Orem?
BLS counts about 370 in the May 2025 survey. That is 23% of the Utah total of 1,590. Only Salt Lake City-Murray has more in Utah.
Does a payroll specialist cost more than an executive assistant in Provo-Orem?
Yes: $3,300 a year more at the median. The medians are $57,470 and $54,170.
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.