Payroll Administrator Salary

Payroll administrators are responsible for all matters related to employee pay. The administrator creates reports for information related to payroll and enters any changes to employee payroll records. This job includes handling voluntary deductions, such as insurance costs and 401(k) or IRA contributions, as well as involuntary deductions such as wage garnishments required by a court order. If subpoenaed, payroll administrators can speak in court and/or with attorneys regarding wage garnishments.
Payroll administrators keep employees informed when it comes to changes in salary or benefits and answers any questions employees might have about those matters. A professional demeanor is necessary and the ability to explain payroll matters in layman's terms is extremely beneficial. An administrator also calculates and balances any substitute payrolls.
To work as a payroll administrator, you generally must have at least a bachelor's degree in business or finance (or a related field) and experience in an office environment, specifically working in human resources or payroll. Additional certifications may be required depending on the employer. Having a working knowledge of various computer and payroll programs is usually required as well. Payroll administrators also are in charge of preparing tax forms for the company's employees, so they need to ensure that the information reported to the Internal Revenue Service and the employee is accurate. If it's not accurate, the administrator is responsible for making any necessary corrections. Payroll administrators generally work Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but they can definitely have longer days when processing payroll, particularly if they work for a larger company or corporation.

Payroll Administrator Tasks