Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in Washington
The median payroll specialist in Washington earned $64,560 a year in May 2025[1], 10.8% above the US median of $58,260. That puts Washington at #3 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $50,220 | $64,560 | $89,290 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Washington earns $58,310–$76,390; the top tenth earns $89,290 or more, 1.8 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 Washington median that makes about $92,229 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 Washington
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $78,080 | 60 | |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $75,840 | 50 | |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $79,620 | 1,980 | |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $79,320 | 80 | |
| Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $77,840 | 130 | |
| Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $76,420 | 130 | |
| Bellingham, WA | $64,990 | 140 | |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $71,320 | 60 | |
| Yakima, WA | $71,620 | 110 | |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $69,640 | 70 | |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $71,470 | 230 | |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $70,370 | 110 |
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA pays the most ($66,800) and Kennewick-Richland, WA the least ($62,430): $4,370 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 Washington |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | +15.7% | |
| California | +1.2% | |
| Washington | +0.0% | |
| Colorado | -0.7% | |
| Massachusetts | -1.4% |
Questions
How much does a payroll specialist earn in Washington?
The median was $64,560 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $58,310 to $76,390.
What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in Washington?
About $92,229 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Washington do payroll specialists earn the most?
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA, with a median of $66,800 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.