Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in Tennessee
The median payroll specialist in Tennessee earned $51,780 a year in May 2025[1], 11.1% below the US median of $58,260. That puts Tennessee at #43 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $36,270 | $51,780 | $75,160 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Tennessee earns $45,300–$61,350; the top tenth earns $75,160 or more, 2.1 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 Tennessee median that makes about $73,971 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 Tennessee
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $62,440 | 1,460 | |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $61,790 | 520 | |
| Knoxville, TN | $65,000 | 500 | |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $59,270 | 100 | |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $58,200 | 190 | |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $61,350 | 90 | |
| South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $58,190 | 100 | |
| East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $56,910 | 110 | |
| North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $54,730 | 90 | |
| Cleveland, TN | $56,320 | 40 | |
| Jackson, TN | $56,960 | 60 | |
| Johnson City, TN | $52,420 | 90 | |
| Morristown, TN | $58,680 | 40 | |
| West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $52,000 | 80 |
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN pays the most ($55,960) and West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area the least ($43,340): $12,620 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
Questions
How much does a payroll specialist earn in Tennessee?
The median was $51,780 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $45,300 to $61,350.
What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in Tennessee?
About $73,971 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Tennessee do payroll specialists earn the most?
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN, with a median of $55,960 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.