$30 - $36 per hour
Vaco Los Angeles is working with a client who is looking for a Payroll Specialist who will be responsible time keeping records of employees’ hours worked as well as any deductions or withholdings required to comply with…
Finance & Accounting · Los Angeles, CA
Payroll Specialist jobs in Los Angeles, CA
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.
330
Open roles today
$26–$53/hr
Typical pay range
$77k
Median, full-time
6
Fresh in this list
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01
Open payroll specialist roles
12 shown of 330 · sorted by freshness
$24 - $27 per hour
Payroll, Timecard & Scheduling Coordinator Dinasty Security Services is seeking a detail-oriented Payroll, Timecard & Scheduling Coordinator to support our growing team. This position will manage payroll processes, maint…
$85k - $95k
Payroll Specialist Position Summary We are seeking a detail-oriented Payroll Specialist to join our team. This role is responsible for processing payroll accurately and on time, ensuring compliance with federal, state, a…
$65k - $70k
Job Summary We are seeking a detail-oriented Payroll and Benefits Specialist for a temp-to-hire opportunity in Downey, CA. This role supports a manufacturing environment and is responsible for accurate weekly payroll pro…
$25 - $28 per hour
Vaco Los Angeles is working with a client who is looking for a Payroll Clerk who will be responsible time keeping records of employees’ hours worked as well as any deductions or withholdings required to comply with state…
$4,695.52 - $5,816.94 per month
: The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) invites applications for the position of Payroll Systems Technician. A Payroll Systems Technician performs clerical-technical duties related to the entry of data, proc…
Payroll Specialist Downey, CA (Hybrid ) | Interview:Phone+Skype Job Description: We're partnering with a local government agency seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist to support multiple .This is an excellent opportu…
Payroll Specialist JOB-10047173 Anticipated Start Date August 24, 2026 Location Appleton, WI Type of Employment Contract Employer Info The Company began its journey delivering successful industrial construction and prefa…
$64k - $72k
JOB BRIEF As a Paymaster at GreenSlate, you will own the full payroll processing cycle for your assigned clients, including reviewing and calculating timecards to ensure compliance with federal, state, and union regulati…
part of our commitment to enhancing the employee benefits offerings for our clients, we are seeking a skilled and knowledgeable Payroll Specialist to join our dynamic team. The payroll Specialist is responsible for accur…
$19 - $20 per hour
Payroll Clerk Become a Rusnak! Join Rusnak Auto Group, a leading automotive organization with over 60 years of success serving Greater Los Angeles and Southern California. We are proud to offer a dynamic, diverse, ethica…
$75k - $95k
restaurant industry and be part of our innovative culinary journey! The Role: This is a hands-on role at the intersection of payroll, HR systems, and people operations. You'll own the end-to-end payroll cycle across mult…
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What payroll specialists earn in Los Angeles
Hourly first — that's how the offer arrives
| Experience | Hourly | Annual, full-time |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level | $26–$34 | $55k–$71k |
| Mid level | $32–$42 | $67k–$88k |
| Senior | $41–$53 | $85k–$110k |
Adjusted for the Los Angeles 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.
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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.
04
Include compliance wins, like clean payroll tax filings, resolved agency notices, or year-end W-2 cycles delivered without corrections.
05
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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