Payroll Administrators

(NOC 1432)

in All Business, Finance, and Administration

Payroll administrators collect, verify, and process payroll information and determine pay and benefit entitlements for employees within a department, company or other organization. They work for payroll administration companies and throughout the private and public sectors.

Job Outlook

Average

Read more

  • Estimate Moderate growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 300 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate Moderate rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

  • Estimate 3555 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 9370 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

This occupation offers average hiring prospects, with the chances of finding work likely better in Halifax considering both the larger employment base and the availability of specialized firms that offer payroll services. Canadian Payroll Association certification and previous payroll experience are often required. It is now common for payroll activity to be outsourced to companies specializing in this type of work, such as ADP Canada.

Hourly Pay

$17.00

Minimum

$24.58

Median

$34.29

Maximum

Annual Pay

$15,273

Minimum

$41,442

Median

$59,719

Maximum

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

Hourly Pay

$15.00

Minimum

$23.00

Median

$38.50

Maximum

Annual Pay

$6,754

Minimum

$36,515

Median

$70,271

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Payroll administrators collect, verify, and process payroll information and determine pay and benefit entitlements for employees within a department, company or other organization. They work for payroll administration companies and throughout the private and public sectors.

Job duties

Payroll administrators:

  • Maintain records of employee attendance, leave, and overtime to calculate pay and benefit entitlements.
  • Prepare and verify statements of earnings for employees, indicating gross and net salaries and deductions like taxes, union dues, garnishments, and insurance and pension plans.
  • Prepare employee payments and benefit payments by cheque or electronic transfer.
  • Complete, verify and process forms and documentation for administration of benefits like pension plans, leaves, share savings, employment and medical insurance.
  • Prepare T4 statements and other statements.
  • Provide information to employees on payroll matters, benefit plans and collective agreement provisions.
  • Compile statistical reports, statements, and summaries related to pay and benefits accounts.
  • Prepare and balance period-end reports and reconcile issued payrolls to bank statements.

Sample job titles

  • assistant paymaster
  • benefits and pension plan officer
  • pay advisor
  • pay and benefits administrator
  • pay and benefits clerk
  • pay clerk
  • payroll administrator
  • payroll clerk
  • payroll officer
  • salary administration officer

Skills

  • Good communication and interpersonal skills are important, along with a willingness to learn and adapt to continually changing equipment and software. Basic mathematical skills are required, and you should be comfortable handling basic financial transactions. Your work must be accurate and you should enjoy repetitive tasks. Familiarity with computer software and other office equipment is needed. You should also be cooperative and able to work as part of a team.

Job requirements

  • High school is usually required.
  • College or other courses in accounting, bookkeeping or payroll administration or experience as a financial clerk is usually required.
  • Payroll association certification may be required.

Other considerations

  • Movement to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

1,290

employed in 2016

87.2%

employed full-time

0.8%

self employed

88.4%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
11.6%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
46.2

median age

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

63,775

employed in 2016

78.4%

employed full-time

6.6%

self employed

73.4%
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26.6%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
47.9

median age

Where will I likely work?

59.7%

Halifax

$44,088 median annual income
12.4%

Annapolis Valley

$39,065 median annual income
10.1%

Cape Breton

$35,966 median annual income
10.1%

North Shore

$40,955 median annual income
7.8%

Southern

$34,488 median annual income

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

25.5%

Professional, scientific and technical services

15.7%

Public administration

10.2%

Health care and social assistance

10.2%

Retail trade

5.5%

Transportation and warehousing

What is the age of Employment?

29.0%

45-54

27.0%

35-44

22.0%

55-64

16.0%

25-34

4.0%

65+

2.0%

15-24

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

26.3%

45-54

22.6%

55-64

19.4%

35-44

16.7%

25-34

7.5%

65+

Top levels of education

43.8%

College Diploma

$42,523 median annual income
20.9%

High school

$39,864 median annual income
20.2%

Bachelor

$47,462 median annual income
5.0%

Trade Certification

$43,643 median annual income
3.5%

Diploma Below Bachelor

$34,348 median annual income

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

33.8%

College Diploma

$36,304 median annual income
23.8%

High school

$32,903 median annual income
22.8%

Bachelor

$41,755 median annual income
5.8%

Trade Certification

$34,807 median annual income
4.9%

Less than high school

$23,174 median annual income

Education & training

Accounting Technology and Bookkeeping

College or Trades Program

These programs prepare students to provide technical administrative support to professional accountants and other financial management personnel. They include courses in posting transactions to accounts, record-keeping systems, accounting software operation, and general accounting principles and practices.

Institutions providing this program

Maritime Business College

Lower Sackville, NS

Eastern College - Halifax

Halifax, NS

Academy of Learning Career College - Halifax

Halifax, NS

Centre for Distance Education

Sydney, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Program

Adults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.

Institutions providing this program

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Community Learning Organizations

Various, NS

Human Resources Management and Services

College or University Program

These programs prepare students to manage the development of human capital in organizations, and to provide related services to individuals and groups. They include courses in personnel and organization policy, human resource dynamics and flows, labour relations, sex roles, civil rights, human resources laws and regulations, motivation and compensation systems, work systems, career management, employee testing and assessment, recruitment and selection, managing employee and job training programs, and the management of human resources programs and operations.

Institutions providing this program

Eastern College - Halifax

Halifax, NS

Island Career Academy

Sydney, NS

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Labour and Industrial Relations

College or University Program

These programs focus on employee-management interactions and the management of issues and disputes regarding working conditions and worker benefit packages, and that prepares individuals to function as labour or personnel relations specialists. They include courses in labour history, policies and strategies of the labour movement, union organization, labour-management negotiation, labour law and contract interpretation, labour economics, welfare and benefit packages, grievance procedures, and labour policy studies.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Canadian Payroll Association
Toronto, ON

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.