Description
Payroll administrators collect, verify and process payroll information, determine pay and benefit entitlements for employees, maintain accurate payroll records, and provide payroll information within a department, company or other establishment. They are employed by payroll administration companies and by establishments throughout the public and private sectors.
Job Titles
- Account records clerk – payroll
- Assistant paymaster
- Benefits and pension plan officer
- Benefits officer – payroll administration
- Pay accounts clerk
- Pay advisor
- Pay and benefits administrator
- Pay and benefits clerk
- Pay clerk
- Pay verifier
- Payroll administrator
- Payroll clerk
- Payroll machine operator
- Payroll officer
- Payroll technician
- Salary administration officer
- Superannuation clerk – government
- Timekeeper – payroll
Main Duties
- Maintain and update employee information, such as 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, verify and process all employee payroll related payments, including regular pay, benefit payments, and special payments such as bonuses and vacation pay
- Complete, verify and process forms and documentation for administration of benefits such as pension plans, leaves, share savings, employment and medical insurance
- Prepare payroll related filings and supporting documentation, such as year-end tax statements, pension, Records of Employment and other statements
- Provide information on payroll matters, benefit plans and collective agreement provisions
- Compile, review, and monitor statistical reports, statements, and summaries related to pay and benefits accounts
- Prepare and balance period-end reports and reconcile issued payrolls to bank statements
- Identify and resolve payroll discrepancies
- May be responsible for the development or implementation of payroll policies, procedures or processes.
Workplaces
- Establishments throughout the private and public sector
- Payroll administrative companies
Skills
- Numeracy
- Oral Communication: Active Listening
- Oral Communication: Oral Comprehension
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
Abilities
- Mathematical Reasoning
- Numerical Ability
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Categorization Flexibility
Personal Attributes
- Attention to Detail
- Adaptability
- Collaboration
- Independence
- Stress Tolerance
Similar Occupations
Source: OaSIS
Employment Outlook
The employment outlook will be Moderate for payroll administrators (NOC 13102) in Prince Edward Island for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
- Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
- A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
- There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Payroll administrators are employed across all sectors, including government, healthcare, education, and private industry, where they manage employee compensation, benefits, and tax reporting. While automation and self-service payroll systems have streamlined many tasks, the role is evolving to include broader administrative responsibilities, compliance oversight, and data management.
Employers typically seek candidates with diplomas in payroll, accounting, or business administration, along with strong skills in payroll software, spreadsheets, and online platforms. Certification from the National Payroll Institute is a valuable asset, and knowledge of tax regulations and employment standards can improve job prospects. For individuals, building digital fluency, attention to detail, and adaptability will be key to thriving in this essential support role.
Here are some key facts about Payroll administrators in Prince Edward Island:
- Approximately 400 people work in this occupation.
- Payroll administrators mainly work in the following sectors:
- Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 30%
- Hospitals (NAICS 622): 25%
- Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services (NAICS 5412): 17%
- Food, beverage and tobacco product manufacturing (NAICS 311, 312): 6%
- Agriculture (NAICS 111, 112, 1151, 1152): 5%
- The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
- Full-time workers: 90% compared to 84% for all occupations
- Part-time workers: 10% compared to 16% for all occupations
- 88% of payroll administrators work all year, while 12% work only part of the year, compared to 59% and 41% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 49 weeks compared to 41 weeks for all occupations.
- The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
- Men: 12% compared to 51% for all occupations
- Women: 88% compared to 49% for all occupations
- The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
- no high school diploma: 6% compared to 11% for all occupations
- high school diploma or equivalent: 17% compared to 28% for all occupations
- apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 9% compared to 11% for all occupations
- college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor’s: 39% compared to 25% for all occupations
- bachelor’s degree: 26% compared to 17% for all occupations
- university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
Source: Job Bank
Prevailing Wages
| AREA | LOW | MEDIAN | HIGH |
|---|---|---|---|
| PEI | $18.75 | $26.15 | $35.00 |
| Canada | $20.00 | $30.00 | $43.27 |
Training
There are no known training programs for this occupation in PEI. If you are aware of a local training program, please contact us.