Payroll administrators
Career Overview
Payroll clerks:
- Collect, verify and process payroll information and determine pay and benefit entitlements for employees within a department, company or other establishment
- Work for payroll administration companies and by establishments throughout the private and public sectors
Duties
Payroll clerks:
- Maintain records of employee attendance, leave and overtime to calculate pay and benefit entitlements using manual or computerized systems
- Prepare and check 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, check 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
- Collect statistical reports, statements, and summaries related to pay and benefits accounts
- Prepare and balance period-end reports and reconcile issued payrolls to bank statements
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
5,615% Employed Full Time
73%Work in this occupation is typically performed in a structured environment, such as an office.
Career Pathways
Promotion to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
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For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Job Titles
Education, Training and Skills
- 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
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Computing/Office Automation Related
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
5,615Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 165 | 2.9% |
| Kootenay | 125 | 2.2% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 3,610 | 64.3% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 125 | 2.2% |
| Northeast | 105 | 1.9% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 580 | 10.3% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 900 | 16.0% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2023-2033)
2,460Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2023-2033)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 40 | -0.1% |
| Kootenay | 40 | 0.6% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,600 | 1.1% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 20 | 1.8% |
| Northeast | 20 | -0.7% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 320 | 1.0% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 430 | 1.1% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2023-2033) |
|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific And Technical Services | 390 |
| Health Care And Social Assistance | 370 |
| Public Administration | 240 |
| Retail Trade | 220 |
| Educational Services | 190 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.
