$95k - $125k
Title : Payroll Manager Company Industry : Healthcare / Behavioral Health Compensation : $95,000-$125,000 Location : Remote (strong preference for someone based out of CA) A client of ours is seeking a Payroll Manager to…
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.
170
Open roles today
$25–$51/hr
Typical pay range
$75k
Median, full-time
8
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01
Open payroll specialist roles
12 shown of 170 · sorted by freshness
SUMMARY Responsible for maintaining, and fully understanding the payroll processing system, reconciliation of payroll, interface with... ...DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Provide support to the Payroll Specialist to review…
billing services to customers. Reviews and responds to emails received by department group email account. Provides research on payroll reporting status, payments, cancellation/reinstatement status etc. Handles customers…
$80k - $110k
Title: Payroll Supervisor Compensation: $90,000 – $110,000 Location: San Diego (hybrid, 80–90% onsite) Overview: Seeking a Payroll Supervisor to lead end-to-end payroll operations in a complex, multi-entity environment.…
** Candidate needs to have Workday Experience. UKG payroll experience is a plus. Additionally, they need someone to have end-to-end,... ...Assignment: 26 weeks - On-site position Job Summary: Payroll Specialists perform…
$29 per hour
About Fairmont Grand Del Mar Bask in the San Diego sunshine and enjoy our five-star setting at Fairmont Grand Del Mar. Immersed in the charm of Los Peñasquitos Canyon, the resort hosts 249 elegantly appointed guestrooms…
$83.6k - $108.1k
Shift: 1st Security Clearance: No Clearance SUMMARY Supervises day to day activities and operations of the payroll department, providing supervision and training to lower level payroll staff. Ensures timeliness and accur…
$32.32 per hour
About the Role We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Payroll Specialist to join our team for a 26-week on-site assignment. In this role, you will independently perform a full range of high-volume payroll func…
Location This position is located in Kearny Mesa, San Diego County. Hours Full Time - Day Shift The position: The Payroll and Financial Analyst is responsible for the timely and accurate calculation and processing of the…
$24 - $28 per hour
individual who is ready to learn, grow, and make a meaningful impact behind the scenes. We are currently seeking a Compliance & Payroll Assistant to join our team. This is a developmental role designed for someone who is…
$25 - $30 per hour
EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Full-Time (6-Month Contract-to-Hire) FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt GENERAL JOB DESCRIPTION: As a Payroll & Billing Specialist, you will play a critical role in supporting Eastridge's centralized Payroll & Bill…
$21 - $23 per hour
Paid administration time All-age populations with specialty focus on children and teens Your role as a Insurance Verification Specialist: The Insurance Verification Specialist is a vital team member of the Support Team w…
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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.
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.
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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