$65k - $80k
Role Overview The Accounts Payable (AP) Specialist is responsible for full-cycle accounts payable activities and purchase order administration. This role helps ensure invoices are accurate, payments are processed on time…
Finance & Accounting · San Jose, CA
Payroll Specialist jobs in San Jose, 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.
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$30–$60/hr
Typical pay range
$88k
Median, full-time
3
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chain has access to the Flash memory it needs to keep our world moving forward. Job Description The Strategic Sourcing Specialist is responsible for leading sourcing and procurement activities across Engineering Lab Equi…
$138.96k - $191.07k
billion devices shipped, SiTime is changing the timing industry. For more information, visit: . Job Description The Global Payroll Manager leads the strategy, operations, and continuous improvement of payroll processes a…
$76k - $128k
HR Payroll Analyst Graduate (HROP) - 2026 Start Location : San Jose Employment Type : Regular Job Code : A36042 Responsibilities The HROP Payroll Ops team strives to be the trusted partner to the employees as we respect…
$25 - $32 per hour
Veterinary Billing Specialist $25-32/hour Temporary opportunity in Campbell, California Schedule: 4 10-hour shifts. Weekdays. Compensation is based on experience and skill set. Why Join SAGE Campbell At SAGE Campbell, pa…
$130k - $180k
company that's making a real difference in how the world connects and communicates. About the Role Versa Networks is looking for a Payroll Manager to lead payroll operations for our growing global workforce. This role is…
from 7:30 AM to no later than 9 AM. Inputs data from time sheets, production records, or individual time cards to computerized payroll system. Also responsible for balancing payroll runs, producing federal, state and loc…
Job Description Job Description Payroll Manager requires: ~ Hands-on Workday Payroll expertise with demonstrated ownership of end-to-end multi-state payroll processing (not simply managing or approving payroll). ~8+ year…
$30 - $38 per hour
▶︎ Job Details ・Job Title: Experienced Tax Staff (Japanese Bilingual) ・Client: Accounting Firm ・Working Location: Remote or San Jose ・Working Style: Mostly remote ・Employment Type: Non-Exempt (Overtime paid after 40 Hour…
$109k - $163.6k
Job Description Job Description Payroll Manager Location: San Jose, CA Salary Range: $109,000 – $163,600/year Work Schedule: Mon-Friday either 6:30am – 3:30pm OR 7:30am – 4:30pm Benefits: Employee Stock Ownership Plan (E…
a rewarding career, we invite you to become a part of our growing family. Job Summary: We are seeking an experienced HR & Payroll Manager to oversee all aspects of human resources and payroll functions within our organiz…
CAPITOL NISSAN is looking for professionals to join our growing team. We provide on the job training and a welcoming family friendly environment. As an accounts Payable you will help our team by accurately performing bas…
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What payroll specialists earn in San Jose
Hourly first — that's how the offer arrives
| Experience | Hourly | Annual, full-time |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level | $30–$38 | $62k–$80k |
| Mid level | $37–$48 | $76k–$99k |
| Senior | $47–$60 | $97k–$124k |
Adjusted for the San Jose market from national ranges.
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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
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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
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State the payroll size you ran: employee count, pay frequencies, and number of states or entities.
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Quantify accuracy, such as error rates or consecutive on-time pay runs, since that is the core promise of the role.
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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
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Senior Payroll Specialist
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Payroll Manager
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