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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 $70,000 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 $70,000 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.
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 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
Comparing your pay against related roles gives you a clearer view of the finance job market. You can benchmark your earnings against a Bookkeeper or Accounts Officer, as well as an Accounts Administrator or Accounts Assistant.
| Role | Range | Relative | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Officer You are here | $74,000–$96,000 | $84,000 | |
| Bookkeeper | $65,000–$85,000 | $75,000 | |
| Accounts Officer | $67,000–$83,000 | $75,000 | |
| Accounts Administrator | $64,000–$82,000 | $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 September 2026.
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