PAYROLL ADMINISTRATION
What does a payroll administrator do?
Payroll administrators are professionals who track employees’ rates of pay, vacation, sick time, overtime, and disperse payroll checks. Often, they are often responsible for updating records related to changes in employees’ addresses or withholdings.
Payroll administrators manage all aspects of payroll, and they must accomplish required tasks promptly. They provide the following services:
- Administer payroll for employees
- Prepare reports for weekly, quarterly, and yearly reviews
- Review and abide by company policies and procedures
- Make sure account balances are correct
- Resolve payroll errors
Payroll administrators also assist employees who experience problems with their pay or need to make changes, whether it is new address or an adjustment to their withholdings. They also educate staff about their salary and benefits and any updates to the payment process.
Because payroll touches many parts of a business, payroll administrators liaise closely with other departments, like human resources (HR) or information technology (IT). In some cases, such as an audit, they may be required to work with federal, state, or local authorities.
What is the average wage for a payroll administrator?
The average base wage for a payroll administrator is $23.68 per hour in 2023. On the low end of the scale, a payroll administrator can expect to earn $16.66 per hour. On the high end of the scale, they can earn as much as $33.66 per hour.
What types of skills does a payroll administrator provide?
An experienced payroll administrator has developed the following skills:
- Strong math and accounting skills
- Communication
- Decision-making
- Discretion and attention to detail
What is the difference between a payroll administrator and a payroll coordinator?
While a payroll administrator is responsible for activities related to processing payroll checks, tax forms, and other records in a small- to medium-sized business, a payroll coordinator communicates between the separate departments of an organization and the payroll department in a larger, multi-department company.
A payroll coordinator processes paperwork related to employees’ vacation and enters new employees into the payroll system. Both roles require excellent math, communication, and organizational skills.