BLS OEWS May 2025
Senior Payroll Specialist salary, Delaware
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For a Senior Payroll Specialist pay comparison in Delaware, BLS reports a median annual wage of $56,430 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 $1,830 (3.1%) below the U.S. median of $58,260.
Broader occupation
BLS reports Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks, not a separate wage for Senior Payroll Specialist. This broader occupation does not distinguish seniority, work arrangement or language requirements.
| Percentile | Wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,680 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th | $48,400 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median | $56,430 | Half earned less and half earned more. |
| 75th | $80,250 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th | $86,620 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $61,460 | 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
- 320
- Location quotient
- 0.67
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, Delaware, DE. 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 | $57,690 |
| BLS OEWS May 2025 | $56,430 |
The published medians differ by $1,260. 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.
Recruiter's read
Qualitative view from our desk. Not BLS data.
The BLS line for Senior Payroll Specialist is a starting point. Ask which decisions this person will own and who will check the work. The published occupation does not separate the scope of your seat from other jobs with the same SOC.
Common questions
Which median is used when comparing pay for Senior Payroll Specialist?
$56,430 is the annual median for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks (SOC 43-3051) in Delaware, DE, 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 $48,400 and the 75th percentile is $80,250 in Delaware, DE. That is where the middle half of workers in this occupation fall.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimates 320 workers in Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in Delaware, DE.
What does the upper percentile show?
The 90th percentile for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks is $86,620. 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned more.
Does BLS publish this exact title?
BLS reports Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks, not a separate wage for Senior Payroll Specialist. This broader occupation does not distinguish seniority, work arrangement or language requirements.
Related areas and roles
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Senior Payroll Specialist in Delaware, 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.