Payroll Specialist Salary $42,390.40 - $58,260.80 Annually
Location: Throughout San Bernardino County, CA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 26-06059-01
Department: Multiple County Departments
Opening Date: January 31, 2026
Closing Date: February 13, 2026 5:00 PM Pacific
Description: Benefits Questions
The Job IMMEDIATE VACANCIES - APPLY TODAY!
San Bernardino County is recruiting for Payroll Specialists who perform specialized clerical work related to the preparation/processing of payroll and payroll related documents. Incumbents also assist employees with payroll and personnel related questions/problems. For more detailed information, refer to the Payroll Specialist job description.
The resulting eligible list may also be used to fill future vacancies throughout the County as they occur. Job duties include but are not limited to:
• Preparing, reviewing, and verifying documents relating to the computation, collection, and submission of payroll and/or benefit transactions; • Explaining personnel and payroll rules and procedures consistent with the County Personnel Rules, collective bargaining agreements, benefit plans, and other employment related guidelines; • Verifying and adjusting attendance records and time sheets; • Calculating hourly rates, gross pay, overtime, differentials and other supplemental pay.
EXCELLENT BENEFITS
To review job-specific benefits, refer to:
Summary of Benefits Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
The eligible list established by this recruitment may also be used to fill vacancies in the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District and Special Districts Department. Applicants will be asked to indicate their availability and preference for referral to the different agencies in the Supplemental Questionnaire.
The San Bernardino County Fire Protection District and Special Districts Department are separate entities from San Bernardino County, and as such, compensation and benefits for their positions are set forth in a different compensation plan. The salary for San Bernardino County Fire Protection District (Payroll Specialist (Fire Department)) is $42,931 - $59,217 annually (range N18). For additional details, refer to the Fire Auxiliary Services Unit MOU and Benefits Summary.
The salary for Special Districts (Payroll Specialist (Special Districts)) is $42,868 - $62,129 annually (range N18). For additional details, refer to the Non-Represented Employee Compensation Plan and Benefits Summary.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Pre-employment Process: Applicants must pass a background investigation, which includes fingerprinting, credit check, and/or medical exam, prior to appointment. For the Probation and Sheriffs Departments, positions require extensive background investigations, including polygraph testing. If you are interested in these departments, indicate your availability on the Supplemental Questionnaire.
Sponsorship: Please note San Bernardino County is not able to consider candidates who will require visa sponsorship at the time of application or in the future.
Minimum Requirements
CANDIDATES MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENT:
• EXPERIENCE: Must possess eighteen (18) months of full-time clerical experience where the primary duty involved performing fiscal and/or payroll activities including mathematical computations. • NOTE: Retail sales/cashiering or general clerical (e.g., typing, filing, data entry) experience is not considered qualifying. • All work experience must be clearly detailed and demonstrated on the application AND supplemental questionnaire to ensure qualifications are properly considered (resumes are not reviewed). All information must be current and up to date.
Desired Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have excellent organizational skills, be detail-oriented, and possess excellent mathematics and interpersonal skills. Payroll experience is highly desirable.
SELECTION PROCESS
Examination Procedure:
Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be invited to take the online assessment. The assessment will consist of an evaluation of skills and knowledge in the following areas (practice materials not available):
Fiscal Arithmetic Office Procedures Payroll Interpersonal Skills
Details of the online assessment process will be emailed. All communications regarding the remainder of the selection process will be via email.
Important: The ability to take pre-employment tests online is a privilege. Please do not take advantage of this benefit. Also, be aware that applicants may be required to take parallel versions of these tests in a proctored setting in order to confirm their identities as the original test takers.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Please complete and submit the online employment application and supplemental questionnaire by 5:00 PM, February 13, 2026. It is to your advantage to provide as much relevant and detailed work experience as possible, as resumes will not be reviewed in lieu of the application materials. To ensure timely and successful submission of your online application, please allow ample time to complete and submit your application before the posted filing deadline. Applicants will be automatically logged out if they have not submitted the application and all required materials prior to the posted deadline. Once your application has been successfully submitted, you will receive an onscreen confirmation and an email. We recommend that you save and/or print these for your records. Please note, if you do not receive an onscreen confirmation and an email acknowledging our receipt of your application, we have not received your application.
Applicants will be automatically logged out if they have not submitted the application and all required materials prior to the posted deadline. Once your application has been successfully submitted, you will receive an onscreen confirmation and an email. We recommend that you save and/or print these for your records. Please note, if you do not receive an onscreen confirmation and an email acknowledging our receipt of your application, we have not received your application.
EEO/ADA: San Bernardino County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant employer, dedicated to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants.
ADA Accommodation: If you have a disability and need accommodations during the testing process, please submit the Special Testing Accommodations Request Form within one week of a recruitment filing deadline.
Veterans' Preference: Eligible veterans, their spouses, or widows/widowers who are not current County employees may receive additional Veterans Preference points. For details and instructions on how to request these points, please refer to the Veterans Preference Information. (All Veterans Preference documentation (originals not required) must be submitted within 48 hours of submitting your application.)
For more important details, review the links below:
Guide to Completing a County Job Application Applicant Information and the County Employment Process Clerical Unit
San Bernardino County offers a range of benefit programs for employees and their eligible dependents. These include health, dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as a variety of other voluntary benefits. Programs and benefit amounts vary and are based on bargaining unit, family size, hire date, plan selection, and number of hours worked. Please review the appropriate Summary of Benefits* for more information.
Refer to the appropriate MOU, contact the County's Employee Benefits and Services Division at (909) 387-5787 or visit the Employee Benefits website for more detailed information.
*Retirement benefits subject to change.
INSTRUCTIONS:
The information on the Application and your responses to the following Supplemental Questions will be used in a determination of qualifications. Accurate responses should be provided for each question, and all experience must be clearly detailed in the work experience section of your application in order to ensure qualifications are properly considered. (Do not refer to resume as it will NOT be reviewed. All questions should be answered appropriately.)
I have read and understand the above statement.
QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE
Indicate your clerical experience where the primary duty involved performing fiscal activities, such as arithmetical calculations or computations. Greater than eighteen (18) months of full-time clerical experience where the primary duty involved performing payroll/fiscal activities, such as arithmetical calculations or computations. Eighteen (18) months of full-time clerical experience where the primary duty involved performing payroll/fiscal activities, such as arithmetical calculations or computations. Less than eighteen (18) months of full-time clerical experience where the primary duty involved performing payroll/fiscal activities, such as arithmetical calculations or computations. I do not have full-time clerical experience where the primary duty involved performing payroll/fiscal activities, such as arithmetical calculations or computations.
QUALIFYING EMPLOYER
Provide the name of the employer and dates where you acquired your qualifying experience. If none, indicate "N/A."
EMPLOYER REFERENCED AND ALL RELEVANT EXPERIENCE MUST BE LISTED AND DESCRIBED IN THE WORK EXPERIENCE SECTION OF YOUR APPLICATION.
EXPERIENCE
Clearly describe in detail your work experience where the primary duty involved performing fiscal and/or payroll activities. Be sure to include examples of specific tasks and duties performed. If no experience, indicate "N/A."
EXPERIENCE REFERENCED MUST BE LISTED AND DESCRIBED IN THE WORK EXPERIENCE SECTION OF YOUR APPLICATION.
SPECIAL SKILLS
Some departments require special skills and may request verification (certificates, etc.) at the time of interview. To be considered for a special skill, candidates must complete the supplemental questions below for that skill. By checking this box, I am indicating that I understand the above statement.
FISCAL/ACCOUNTING
Indicate in which areas you have at least six (6) months of experience. Check all that apply.
• PAYROLL: processing, auditing, correcting and calculating payroll/timesheets • BILLING: preparing, processing or auditing bills, claims, statements or requisitions for payment • MEDICAL BILLING: experience preparing, processing or auditing medical billing • BUDGETING: participating in budget preparation, as well as experience monitoring purchases and expenditures • CASHIERING: experience using a cash register/automated cashiering system, including balancing receipts and coding items • ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: preparing, processing or auditing accounts payable • ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE: preparing, processing or auditing accounts receivable None of the above
COMPUTER APPLICATIONS
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