If you’ve decided that this is the right career field for you, then it’s time to take a closer look at the process of how to become a payroll specialist. All payroll specialists are expected to have at least a high school diploma or GED. If you’re still in high school, schedule a visit with your high school guidance counselor.
During your meeting, talk to your guidance counselor about your career goals and see whether you can adjust your course load accordingly. It will be helpful to take more mathematics classes, including business statistics and accounting, if they are available at your school. You should also try to take classes in microeconomics, macroeconomics, business law and computer applications.
After high school, you should plan on earning your bachelor’s degree, because most employers prefer to hire payroll specialists who have a degree. It’s not necessary to pursue graduate-level education. However, you should plan on earning a professional certification to demonstrate your payroll-specific competencies.