About the job
Payroll administrators collect, verify, and process payroll information and determine pay and benefit entitlements for employees within a department, company or other establishment. They are employed by payroll administration companies and by establishments throughout the private and public sectors.
- Maintain records of employee attendance, leave and overtime to calculate pay and benefit entitlements, in Canadian and other currencies, using manual or computerized systems.
- Prepare and verify statements of earnings for employees, indicating gross and net salaries and deductions such as 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 such as 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.
- 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
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.
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of 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.
Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
Labour Market Information
The employment outlook over the next few years for this occupational group is “average”, which indicates the chances of a qualified individual finding work is comparable to the average for all occupations in Nova Scotia. This is a fairly large occupation in Nova Scotia so job opportunities occur fairly regularly. The number employed in this occupation is expected to grow moderately over the next few years, which will likely provide some additional opportunities for employment. With a large percent of workers being 55 years of age and older, retirements are expected to be a key contributor to employment opportunities over the coming years. Payroll Clerks most commonly work full-time hours. Furthermore, the jobs are typically permanent positions.
The median employment income for 71% of Payroll Clerks who worked full-time, year-round in 2015 was $46,048. Across all occupations in Nova Scotia, 59% of those who worked full-time year round had a median employment income of $43,600.
(Source: 2016 Census)
| Occupation | Estimated employment in 2018 | Estimated change in employment between 2017 and 2019 | Estimated openings due to growth and retirements, 2017-2019 | Estimated rate of unemployment in 2018 | Estimated hourly earnings in 2015 (learn more) | Estimated annual earnings in 2015 |
| Payroll administrators | 1,180 | Moderate growth | 150 | Low | Minimum: $15.38 Median: $22.00 Maximum: $35.16 | Minimum: $15,273 Median: $41,442 Maximum: $59,719 |
| Occupations in Business, Finance, and Administration | 63,775 | Moderate growth | 6,600 | Low | Minimum: $13.00 Median: $21.03 Maximum: $35.90 | Minimum: $6,754 Median: $36,515 Maximum: $70,271 |
| Payroll administrators | Compared to: Occupations in Business, Finance, and Administration | |
| Percent employed full-time | 88% | 81% |
| Percent self-employed | 0% | 7% |
| Area of Employment | Payroll administrators | Compared to: All NS Occupations | ||
| % Employed | Median Annual Income | % Employed | Median Annual Income | |
| Southern | 8% | $42,544 | 12% | $30,581 |
| Northern | 10% | $29,872 | 16% | $33,660 |
| Cape Breton | 10% | x | 13% | $32,974 |
| Halifax | 60% | $36,591 | 47% | $41,209 |
| Annapolis Valley | 12% | $31,545 | 13% | $32,958 |
| Age | Payroll administrators | Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration |
| % Employed | % Employed | |
| 15-24 | 5% | x |
| 25-34 | 22% | 6% |
| 35-44 | 28% | 19% |
| 45-54 | 25% | 36% |
| 55-64 | 19% | 28% |
| 65+ | 2% | 11% |
| Median Age | 46 | 48 |
| Gender | Payroll administrators | Compared to: Occupations in Business, Finance, and Administration |
| % Employed | % Employed | |
| Female | 88% | 73% |
| Male | 12% | 27% |
| Education | Payroll administrators | Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration | ||
| % Employed | Median Annual Income | % Employed | Median Annual Income | |
| Less than high school | 2.7% | $24,109 | 4.7% | $23,775 |
| High school | 21.1% | $35,981 | 23.7% | $30,074 |
| Trades certificate | 5.1% | $35,059 | 5.8% | $32,871 |
| College certificate or diploma | 43.8% | $35,354 | 34.4% | $33,837 |
| University certificate or diploma | 3.5% | $39,095 | 3.0% | $35,053 |
| Bachelor's degree | 19.9% | $34,327 | 22.9% | $39,473 |
| University advanced certificate or diploma | 2.7% | x | 1.7% | $40,672 |
| Master's degree | N/A | $41,151 | 3.6% | $23,407 |
| Doctorate | 1.6% | x | 0.2% | $48,614 |
| Medicine, dentistry, veterinary, optometry | N/A | x | 0.1% | $41,688 |
| Total | 100% | 100% | ||
Hourly earnings data are from the Labour Force Survey by Statistics Canada. Data are not available for all occupations. Hourly earnings are calculated based on usual hours worked per week. This is how an annual salary, for instance, gets converted to an hourly rate. The data include full and part-time workers along with new and experienced workers. Self-employed workers are excluded.
Annual employment income data reported in the Work Prospects section, are from the 2011 National Household Survey by Statistics Canada. Much of the data (around 70%) came directly from tax records. The data relates to the year 2010 and includes total wages and salaries and net income from self-employment.
Employment Requirements & Contacts
Training Paths & Education
This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals to provide technical administrative support to professional accountants and other financial management personnel. These programs include courses in posting transactions to accounts, record-keeping systems, accounting software operation, and general accounting principles and practices.
This instructional program class comprises any program that defines the prescribed requirements, specified by the appropriate jurisdiction, for the completion of and graduation from a secondary school program of academic subject matter offered for adult learners outside of the regular secondary school program. This does not include adult compensatory education programs resulting in completion of a high school equivalency certificate or diploma.
This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals to provide basic administrative support under the supervision of office managers, administrative assistants, secretaries, and other office personnel. These programs include courses in typing, keyboarding, filing, general business correspondence, office equipment operation, and communications skills.
This instructional program class comprises any program not listed above that relates to Human Resources Management and Services.
There are no additional resources for this occupation.