Payroll Officer Salary in Sydney (2026)

Last updated

Payroll Officers in Sydney earn a median salary of $100,000 in 2026, with most advertised roles falling between $81,164 and $118,204. That sits 5% above Sydney's all-roles median of $95,000. Figures are based on 102 jobs advertised in Sydney in the last 30 days.

▲ High demand Top 6% of roles by listing volume in Sydney ↑ +35 listings vs last month
💰 Payroll Officer · Sydney
ADVERTISED RANGE
$81,164 – $118,204
Median: $100,000
Aug $95k
Sep $100k
↑ Trending up

Based on 2-month data, short-term movement only.

Mid level $80,000 – $110,000
Senior level $100,000 – $125,000
Overall $81k–$118k Mid $80k–$110k Senior $100k–$125k $77k $87k $98k $108k $118k $128k
High confidence 102 listings (+35 vs last month) · 30/09/2026

Salary ranges are percentiles calculated from 102 job listings for this role and city, 97.1% sourced from Seek.com.au and the rest from government job boards and employer career sites. Of those, 39.4% stated a salary directly. The remaining 60.6% carried a range estimated from the listing, so this median blends advertised and estimated pay. Figures represent what employers advertise and may differ from actual compensation.

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Bottom 10%  $81,164 Median  $100,000 $118,204  Top 10%

Understanding the Sydney Market

The median rose $5,000 to $100,000 with listings up 52% from 67 to 102, putting demand in the 94th percentile. Sydney now leads the country, with Melbourne at $98,000, Perth at $96,000, Brisbane at $90,000 and Adelaide at $85,000. The role clears the Sydney city median by 5.3%, which is unusual for a specialist administrative function. The senior band runs $100,000 to $125,000 on 26 listings with a median of $111,000. At 39% salary disclosure the figure is moderately supported.

Take Home Pay (based on median $100,000)

Weekly (net)
~$1,443
Monthly (net)
~$6,253
Annual (net)
~$75,033
Total package (incl. 2025-26 super at 11.5%) $111,500

Take-home calculated using 2025-26 ATO tax rates, no HECS debt, full Australian residency. Total package adds 11.5% superannuation to base salary. Adjust for your situation →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good starting salary for a junior Payroll Officer in Sydney?
Entry is $81,000, which is high for a transactional finance role because payroll carries compliance exposure that accounts payable does not. System experience is the main lever, with Chris21, Aurion, Kronos and SAP recurring across listings. Multi-state award and enterprise agreement interpretation are what move officers toward the top of the band.
Is $100,000 a good salary in Sydney?
Yes, modestly. At $100,000 a payroll officer earns 5.3% above Sydney's all-roles median of $95,000, with take-home near $1,443 a week against the highest living costs in this report. It leads the country and pays $20,000 more than accounts payable at $80,000. It also out-earns general accountants at $97,000, which is unusual.
How much does a Senior Payroll Officer make in Sydney?
Senior listings run $100,000 to $125,000 with a median of $111,000, from 26 listings. Payroll management, system implementation and multi-entity responsibility are what reach it. Award interpretation expertise is what employers actually pay for, since underpayment exposure is expensive.

Other roles in Sydney

Payroll Officer salaries in other cities

City Median salary vs Sydney
Sydney (this page) $100,000 0%
Melbourne $98,800 ~same
Perth $96,460 -4%
Brisbane $90,000 -10%
Adelaide $85,000 -15%

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Data sourced from publicly listed job advertisements. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Seek or any third-party platforms. Salary ranges represent advertised figures and may differ from actual compensation. Updated monthly.