drive infrastructure forward, power innovation and leave your mark on our energy future.In the role of Substation Digital Design Specialist, we'll count on you to:Work for a specific discipline, under the direct supervis…
Finance & Accounting · Chicago, IL
Payroll Specialist jobs in Chicago, IL
Payroll specialists make sure people are paid correctly and on time. They process pay runs, handle deductions, and keep payroll compliant with federal, state, and local requirements.
213
Open roles today
$24–$47/hr
Typical pay range
$69k
Median, full-time
6
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01
Open payroll specialist roles
12 shown of 213 · sorted by freshness
$93.5k - $121k
workspaces, creating a vibrant and dynamic work environment in one of Chicago's most iconic areas.The Compliance team is hiring a Senior Specialist, Cboe Clear US (“CCUS”) Compliance.Cboe Clear US is a clearinghouse regi…
$93.5k - $121k
collaborative workspaces, creating a vibrant and dynamic work environment in one of Chicago's most iconic areas. Role Overview The Senior Specialist, Compliance Training is responsible for Cboe’s enterprise-wide Complian…
$58k - $80.4k
The Partner Relations Specialist acts as an operational member on the Partner Relations team. The role assists in the execution of CDW's partner-related strategies such as the partner designation program, partner onboard…
$140.3k - $210.5k
employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.Key Areas of Responsibility:You are an expert in understanding and implementing Payroll product suites and mentor other consultants ramping into these product areasP…
Commodities Back Office Delivery Specialist AVP Chicago - Onsite About The Role As our Back Office Delivery Specialist AVP, you will manage ICE, CME & EEX futures options expiries and energy deliveries, ensuring accurate…
SCP Post Acute Services, LLC (Pinnacle Care Providers & Preferred Podiatry Group) is hiring a Payroll Specialist to join their team. This will be a full-time opportunity with a hybrid schedule in Chicago, IL. Overview Th…
environment with deep process and service delivery experience that distinguishes the EY organization in the marketplace. Our Global Payroll Operate practice focuses on helping our clients effectively manage their global…
$40k - $50k
Summary of Position: The Payroll Coordinator role is different from a typical payroll role as it is heavily focused on data manipulation and analysis. Teens participating in After School Matters programs either earn a st…
$25 - $33.75 per hour
insurance ~ Annual Employee Salary Increase and Incentive Bonus ~ Paid time off and Holiday pay Description The Payroll Specialist reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Eth…
Payroll Specialist – To $65K – Chicago, IL – Job # 3597b Who We Are The Symicor Group is a boutique talent acquisition firm based in Schaumburg, IL & Rockport, TX. Our nationally unique value proposition centers around p…
Position Summary Small full-service payroll company hiring a full-time Payroll Specialist. The Payroll Specialist is accountable and responsible for all aspects of quality service for clients. Contacts and assists client…
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What payroll specialists earn in Chicago
Hourly first — that's how the offer arrives
| Experience | Hourly | Annual, full-time |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level | $24–$30 | $49k–$63k |
| Mid level | $28–$38 | $59k–$78k |
| Senior | $37–$47 | $76k–$97k |
Adjusted for the Chicago market from national ranges.
03
What employers ask for
The skills these listings keep naming
Payroll processingADP, Paychex, or WorkdayMulti-state payroll taxWage and hour complianceGarnishments and deductionsBenefits administration basicsExcelDiscretion and confidentialityAccuracy under deadlines
04
Interview questions worth rehearsing
With the thing the interviewer is actually listening for
Walk me through a full payroll cycle you have run.
Cover collecting time data, validating changes, processing, review, and post-run reporting. Emphasize your checks before anything is finalized.
How do you handle a payroll error after employees have been paid?
Show urgency and correctness: quantify the error, follow the legal rules for corrections, communicate honestly with those affected, and fix the root cause.
What experience do you have with multi-state payroll?
Name the states and the wrinkles you managed, such as local taxes, differing overtime rules, or remote-worker registrations.
How do you process garnishments and other involuntary deductions?
Show you know the order of priority, response deadlines, and the documentation trail, and that you treat these with strict confidentiality.
Which payroll systems have you used, and have you been through a conversion?
Name the platforms and your depth in each. Conversion or implementation experience is a strong differentiator worth detailing.
How do you keep payroll data confidential?
Mention access controls, clean-desk habits, and declining to discuss compensation outside proper channels, even under social pressure.
05
Resume tips that move the needle
For payroll specialists specifically — generic advice costs you here
01
State the payroll size you ran: employee count, pay frequencies, and number of states or entities.
02
Quantify accuracy, such as error rates or consecutive on-time pay runs, since that is the core promise of the role.
03
Name your platforms exactly — ADP Workforce Now, Paychex Flex, Workday, Gusto — as job posts filter on them.
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Include compliance wins, like clean payroll tax filings, resolved agency notices, or year-end W-2 cycles delivered without corrections.
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List certifications such as FPC or CPP; they carry real weight in payroll hiring.
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Where this role goes
Typical progression
01
Payroll Clerk
02
Payroll Specialist
03
Senior Payroll Specialist
04
Payroll Manager
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