BLS OEWS May 2025
Payroll Administrator salary, Colorado
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For a Payroll Administrator pay comparison in Colorado, BLS reports a median annual wage of $64,140 for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks (SOC 43-3051, May 2025). This is the mapped occupation's benchmark, not a separate title-specific survey. That is $5,880 (10.1%) above the U.S. median of $58,260.
Broader occupation
BLS reports Payroll Administrator within a broader occupation. It does not publish separate wages for this exact title, credentials, seniority or industry. Compare the listed SOC duties with your actual role before using this range.
| Percentile | Wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,590 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th | $51,650 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median | $64,140 | Half earned less and half earned more. |
| 75th | $76,040 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th | $88,050 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $65,400 | Average wage across all workers. |
| Percentile | Wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,500 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th | $47,990 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median | $58,260 | Half earned less and half earned more. |
| 75th | $69,600 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th | $81,350 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $59,630 | Average wage across all workers. |
What BLS wages include and exclude
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
- Employment, area
- 2,580
- Location quotient
- 0.91
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, released 2026-05-15. SOC 43-3051 Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks, Colorado, CO. BLS source tables and downloads; release notes. Select this SOC and area in the source files; the tables index is not an exact-row link.
What changed since May 2024
| Release | Median |
|---|---|
| BLS OEWS May 2024 | $59,130 |
| BLS OEWS May 2025 | $64,140 |
The published medians differ by $5,010. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2024 and May 2025. This is not an annualized growth claim. Area definitions and the workers represented can change.
What belongs in the pay comparison
OEWS includes straight-time gross wages, guaranteed pay, commissions and production bonuses. It excludes overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and employer-paid benefits. It is neither pure base salary nor total compensation. If this person covers a payroll deadline, an overdue billing queue or a late close, the overtime bill is separate. A shift differential is also excluded. Compare the regular wage first, then explain the extra hours and any incentive in the offer rather than hide them inside one annual amount.
Pay up and down the role ladder
BLS uses a different occupation for these related jobs. A higher percentile is not a promotion level. Compare the duties and the SOC before comparing the wages.
- Payroll Supervisor: SOC 43-1011 First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
- Payroll Manager: SOC 43-1011 First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
- Director of Payroll: SOC 43-1011 First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
Recruiter's read
Qualitative view from our desk. Not BLS data.
For Payroll Administrator, discuss the work behind these requirements: Owns the full cycle for one employer; benefit and 401(k) deductions and remittances; quarter-end and year-end (941, W-2); FPC or CPP. Ask what the person completed themselves and what a manager or specialist reviewed. A system name on a resume does not establish depth in that workflow. The BLS figure describes the listed occupation, not a separately measured rate for this exact opening.
Common questions
Which median is used when comparing pay for Payroll Administrator?
$64,140 is the annual median for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks (SOC 43-3051) in Colorado, CO, based on BLS May 2025. It is an occupation benchmark, not a separate compensation survey for this hiring title.
What does the middle half of workers earn?
The 25th percentile is $51,650 and the 75th percentile is $76,040 in Colorado, CO. That is where the middle half of workers in this occupation fall.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimates 2,580 workers in Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in Colorado, CO.
What does the upper percentile show?
The 90th percentile for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks is $88,050. 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned more.
Does BLS publish this exact title?
BLS reports Payroll Administrator within a broader occupation. It does not publish separate wages for this exact title, credentials, seniority or industry. Compare the listed SOC duties with your actual role before using this range.
Related areas and roles
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Payroll Administrator in Colorado, from BLS data.
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BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. These are published occupation estimates, not a quote for an exact niche title. Tool calculations use BLS values or your inputs, not predictions.