Payroll Specialist salary in Tulsa, OK
Tulsa is the most expensive place in Oklahoma to hire a payroll specialist. The median is $52,710 a year1, 5.6% above the Oklahoma statewide median of $49,920 and 9.5% below the US median of $58,260. Among US areas it comes in at #283 of 486. BLS counts about 520 people in this job here, 21% of the Oklahoma total.
BLS occupation 43-3051, area Tulsa, OK. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Tulsa against Oklahoma and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulsa, OK | $36,240 | $52,710 | $75,720 | |
| Oklahoma | $32,410 | $49,920 | $74,190 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Tulsa earns $44,720–$63,750. The top tenth earns $75,720 or more, 2.1 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.1 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $19,030 wide, against $22,300 across Oklahoma and $21,610 nationally: employers in Tulsa pay within a narrower band.
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 | $36,240 | $3,020 | $17.42 | $46,761 |
| 25th percentile | $44,720 | $3,727 | $21.50 | $57,703 |
| Median | $52,710 | $4,392 | $25.34 | $68,013 |
| 75th percentile | $63,750 | $5,312 | $30.65 | $82,258 |
| 90th percentile | $75,720 | $6,310 | $36.40 | $97,703 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $11,040 a year in pay and about $14,245 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $7,990 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 Tulsa, and the Oklahoma statewide median of $49,920 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Tulsa
At the $52,710 median, a local hire costs about $68,013 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $15,303 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 Tulsa
Of the 17 roles we track in Tulsa, this one ranks #8 by median pay, between sales development representatives ($54,990) and paralegals ($50,740). Project Coordinator is the highest at $93,240.
| Role | Median | vs payroll specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Assistant | +15.8% | 790 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +4.3% | 2,870 | |
| Payroll Specialist | this role | 520 | |
| Paralegal | -3.7% | 980 | |
| Bookkeeper | -8.5% | 4,400 |
Measured against the US median, payroll specialists rank #7 of the 17 roles we track in Tulsa (-9.5%), between project coordinators (-8.9%) and office managers (-10.2%). The typical role here is at -11.6%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Payroll specialists hold 1.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Tulsa, 1.4% across Oklahoma and 1.0% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Oklahoma
Across the 7 areas of Oklahoma with data for this job, the median runs from $44,030 in the Northeast Oklahoma nonmetro area to $52,710 in Tulsa, a gap of $8,680 a year. The one area in Oklahoma with more payroll specialists, Oklahoma City, OK ($47,830), pays less: a bigger pool at a lower median.
| Area | Median | vs Tulsa | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tulsa, OK | this area | 520 | |
| Lawton, OK | -5.3% | 60 | |
| Oklahoma City, OK | -9.3% | 1,170 | |
| Southeast Oklahoma (Nonmetro) | -12.4% | 270 | |
| Northwest Oklahoma (Nonmetro) | -13.2% | 130 | |
| Southwest Oklahoma (Nonmetro) | -16.3% | 60 | |
| Northeast Oklahoma (Nonmetro) | -16.5% | 110 |
Tulsa against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Tulsa is #55 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 Oklahoma, Lakeland-Winter Haven and North Port-Bradenton pay just above Tulsa and Battle Creek and Palm Bay-Melbourne just below. All four are within $200 a year of the median in Tulsa. Of the three markets with about as many payroll specialists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Tulsa | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | +15.4% | 530 | jobs | |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | +6.6% | 530 | jobs | |
| Memphis, TN-MS | +1.3% | 520 | jobs | |
| North Port-Bradenton, FL | +0.4% | 380 | pay | |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | +0.0% | 220 | pay | |
| Tulsa, OK | this area | 520 | ||
| Battle Creek, MI | -0.1% | 50 | pay | |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne, FL | -0.2% | 210 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a payroll specialist in Tulsa, OK?
About $68,013 a year at the median, or $5,668 a month: $52,710 in pay plus about $15,303 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for payroll specialists in Tulsa?
The median was $52,710 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $36,240, the 90th $75,720, and the middle half earned $44,720 to $63,750.
Is Tulsa the most expensive area in Oklahoma for payroll specialists?
Yes. Its median of $52,710 is the highest of 7 areas in Oklahoma. Lawton comes next at $49,940.
How many payroll specialists work in Tulsa?
BLS counts about 520 in the May 2025 survey. That is 21% of the Oklahoma total of 2,470. Only Oklahoma City has more in Oklahoma.
Does a payroll specialist cost more than a paralegal in Tulsa?
Yes: $1,970 a year more at the median. The medians are $52,710 and $50,740.
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.