Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in Utah
The median payroll specialist in Utah earned $56,430 a year in May 2025[1], 3.1% below the US median of $58,260. That puts Utah at #26 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | $43,400 | $56,430 | $74,530 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Utah earns $49,820–$65,000; the top tenth earns $74,530 or more, 1.7 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 Utah median that makes about $80,614 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 Utah
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $66,350 | 370 | |
| Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $68,480 | 40 | |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $66,050 | 850 | |
| Ogden, UT | $64,070 | 150 | |
| High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $65,610 | 80 | |
| Logan, UT-ID | $60,150 | 40 | |
| St. George, UT | $59,800 | 60 |
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT pays the most ($57,470) and St. George, UT the least ($52,490): $4,980 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
| State | Median | vs Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas | +0.3% | |
| Delaware | +0.0% | |
| Utah | +0.0% | |
| Michigan | -0.5% | |
| Pennsylvania | -1.3% |
Questions
How much does a payroll specialist earn in Utah?
The median was $56,430 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $49,820 to $65,000.
What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in Utah?
About $80,614 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Utah do payroll specialists earn the most?
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT, with a median of $57,470 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.