$30.05 per hour
experienced hospital billing professional looking for a high-impact, fully remote opportunity? We are seeking a dedicated Hospital Billing Specialist to join our Revenue Cycle team! In this key position, you will be resp…
Finance & Accounting · San Diego, CA
Payroll Specialist jobs in San Diego, 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.
108
Open roles today
$25–$51/hr
Typical pay range
$75k
Median, full-time
9
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Open payroll specialist roles
12 shown of 108 · sorted by freshness
$20 - $25 per hour
The Vehicle Payables Clerk submits, reconciles and issues payment for all Service Contracts, Gap Contracts, Dealer Reserve, Flooring and all other vehicle payables. At Mossy Auto Group our employees are our most valuable…
Payroll Specialist - TemporaryRobert Half is seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist for a temporary opportunity with an established organization. This position will support payroll processing for multiple locations as…
We are looking for a Laptop Refresh Specialist to support a large-scale device deployment initiative for an insurance organization in San Diego, California. This Long-term Contract position is ideal for a desktop support…
OverviewCome join Payroll Tax Operations (PTO) as a senior payroll tax expert and Subject Matter Expert (SME) on a team responsible... ...jurisdictions.Prior experience functioning as a lead, senior specialist, or SME; a…
OverviewCome join Payroll Tax Operations (PTO) as a payroll tax professional responsible for the accurate and timely resolution of payroll tax issues across Notices, Corrections, Amendments, and Pay & File. The Senior Pa…
driving success for brands across a variety of industries. Sound fun? Perfect you'll fit right in. We are looking for a Payroll Specialist to be responsible for ensuring the accurate and timely processing of our growin…
$66.71k - $100.07k
8 Controller Position Overview Harder+Company Community Research is seeking an experienced Project Accountant & Payroll Specialist to join our collaborative team of researchers, consultants, and corporate staff. Our orga…
PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR - BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OPERATIONSSan Diego, CA | Point Loma | Full-Time, SalariedExpected Starting Salary: $118,995 - $147,000California BBS License Required: LCSW, LMFT, or LPCC100% On-Site Leadership…
$31.25 - $38.46 per hour
opportunity to build real expertise in legal billing, Klinedinst is the place. The Opportunity We’re looking for a Billing Specialist to join our San Diego office and take ownership of the full billing cycle for a portfo…
$25 - $27 per hour
ABOUT GREYSTAR Greystar is a leading, fully integrated global real estate platform offering expertise in property management, investment management, development, and construction services in institutional-quality rental…
which most ATS/job board parsers pick up cleanly as list items: About the Role Cheer Home Care is seeking an experienced HR Specialist – Payroll & Benefits to own end-to-end payroll processing, benefits administration, a…
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What payroll specialists earn in San Diego
Hourly first — that's how the offer arrives
| Experience | Hourly | Annual, full-time |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level | $25–$33 | $53k–$68k |
| Mid level | $31–$41 | $65k–$85k |
| Senior | $40–$51 | $83k–$106k |
Adjusted for the San Diego 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.
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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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