121,785 Per year (GS 13)Dates: Open 09/22/2026 to 09/29/2026Schedule: Full-timeWork type: PermanentRelocation: FalsePosition ID: FEMA-JB-13066992-DEDocument ID: 885736400Grade: GS 13Job category: Emergency Management Spe…
Finance & Accounting · Washington, DC
Payroll Specialist jobs in Washington, DC
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.
390
Open roles today
$27–$54/hr
Typical pay range
$79k
Median, full-time
3
Fresh in this list
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01
Open payroll specialist roles
5 shown of 390 · sorted by freshness
Agency: Occupational Safety and Health AdministrationDepartment: Department of LaborSub agency: Directorate of Enforcement Programs (DEP)Salary: Starting at $143,913 Per year (GS 14)Dates: Open 09/23/2026 to 10/02/2026Sc…
We are looking for an experienced Senior Billing Specialist to support accurate and timely invoicing operations for a growing law firm in Washington, District of Columbia. This role is ideal for someone who can manage co…
$80k - $90k
Most benefits take effect within 30 days of employment, and some require a waiting period. Position summary: The Benefits/ Payroll Specialist is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Company’s employee ben…
$30 - $35 per hour
Title : Payroll Specialist Type : Contract Duration : Indefinite Pay Rate : $30 - $35/ hour Location : Washington DC Office Schedule : 1x a week Background Check : Upon a conditional offer of employment, the position req…
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What payroll specialists earn in Washington
Hourly first — that's how the offer arrives
| Experience | Hourly | Annual, full-time |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level | $27–$35 | $56k–$72k |
| Mid level | $33–$43 | $69k–$90k |
| Senior | $42–$54 | $88k–$112k |
Adjusted for the Washington 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
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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
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.
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
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Payroll Manager
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