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Australia
Payroll Officer salary guide Australia 2026
The typical Payroll Officer salary in Australia is $84,000, with pay ranging from $74,000 at entry level to $96,000 for senior professionals.
Overview
What does a Payroll Officer earn?
The median salary of Payroll Officers in Australia is $84,000. Salaries typically span $74,000–$96,000, moving from $74,000 in junior roles up to $96,000 for experienced practitioners. Specialists with modern award expertise or a Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance frequently secure packages at the higher end of the scale.
Optional — pick a state first
Median for Payroll Officer, nationally across Australia.
10th $74,000
25th $84,000
50th (median) $96,000
75th $114,000
90th
Figures above update by state/city. For a full breakdown by seniority, see the table below.
Location
Payroll Officer salary by city
Location plays a significant role in setting pay rates across Australia. Capital cities like Sydney and Melbourne often offer higher median salaries than regional areas.
What drives salary
Factors that affect Payroll Officer pay
Several key factors shape what you can earn as a Payroll Officer. Understanding these variables helps you position your skills for stronger remuneration.
Navigating complex Fair Work legislation and multi-state awards increases your value to employers managing distributed workforces.
Experience in high-complexity sectors, such as National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) providers or not-for-profit organisations, attracts a noticeable pay premium.
Interpreting nuanced enterprise agreements requires advanced technical knowledge that employers are willing to pay for.
Holding a Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance strengthens your technical foundation and supports progression into higher salary bands.
Managing end-to-end pay runs for large workforces across sophisticated enterprise software commands higher remuneration.
Comparison
How Payroll Officers compare to related roles
A Payroll Officer typically earns above an Accounts Assistant or Accounts Administrator, reflecting the specialised award compliance and statutory reporting the position requires. Against a Bookkeeper or Accounts Officer, pay is generally comparable, often pulling ahead when managing multi-state enterprise agreements.
| Role | Range | Relative | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Officer You are here | $74,000–$96,000 | $84,000 | |
| Bookkeeper | $65,000–$85,000 | $76,000 | |
| Accounts Officer | $67,000–$83,000 | $75,000 | |
| Accounts Administrator | $64,000–$83,000 | $74,000 | |
| Accounts Assistant | $61,000–$78,000 | $69,000 |
Employment Hero Job Data
Salary figures are derived from Employment Hero proprietary data. All figures represent base salary only and exclude bonuses, superannuation and other benefits. Last updated October 2026.
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