Paycom costs about $25 to $36 per employee a month
Paycom sells payroll and HR software and quotes every deal. It charges per paycheck, which works out to about $25 to $36 per employee a month, based on company size and the modules you pick. On top of that, setup usually costs 15 to 30 percent of your yearly software bill, paid once.
What Paycom costs
| Per employee | About $25 to $36 a month, all modules counted. |
|---|---|
| Payroll only | Some guides report about $12 to $18 per employee a month. |
| Setup fee | About 15 to 30 percent of the yearly software cost. |
| 50 staff | About $15,000 to $21,600 a year. |
| 100 staff | About $30,000 to $43,200 a year. |
What pushes a quote up
| Headcount | More staff means more paychecks. |
|---|---|
| Pay frequency | Paying weekly runs more paychecks than twice a month. |
| Modules | Time, talent and benefits tools add to the rate. |
| Setup | A one time fee of 15 to 30 percent of the yearly bill. |
| Contract | Longer terms can lower the rate. |
Why a per paycheck fee changes your bill
Paycom charges per paycheck, not per person. That means how often you pay staff changes what you pay Paycom. A weekly payroll runs 52 times a year. Twice a month runs 24 times. Same staff, more than twice the paychecks.
So before the call, write down your headcount and your pay schedule. Then ask the rep to turn the quote into one number: cost per employee per month, with every module on. That is the only way to compare it fairly with other payroll tools.
Why the price is hidden
Software sold this way is priced by the sales team, not by a price list. The rep learns your size, your budget and how badly you need it, then builds a quote. Two companies the same size often pay different amounts for the same product. That is why the numbers on this page come from buyers and analysts, not from the vendor.
How to judge the quote in your hand
- Ask for cost per employee per month with every module switched on.
- Ask for the all in number: licence, setup, training and support for year one.
- Ask what renewal looks like in year two and three, in writing.
- Get a second quote from a rival and say so on the call.
- Buy at quarter end, when reps chase targets.
- Cut seats and modules you will not use in the first 90 days.
Ways to pay less
- Ask what changes if you move to paying every two weeks, since fewer paychecks can lower the bill.
- Pay yearly if the discount is real, not just a rounding of the monthly price.
- Start on the lowest tier and upgrade when you hit a wall.
- Ask for the setup fee to be waived or split over the year.
- Check the free trial or demo before you sign anything.
Before you decide
Moving payroll is easiest at the start of a new year, because tax records stay in one place. If you switch mid year, you carry two sets of records, and providers often charge to load the first half of the year. Ask for that fee up front.
Plan for overlap too. Most payroll moves take several weeks, and you keep paying the old provider until the new one runs a clean payroll. Budget for at least one month of both.
One more tip: ask for the price at next year's head count too. Per employee pricing means your growth plan is also your payroll software budget. Knowing both numbers now helps you plan.
What will this cost me?
Pick the job, your state's cost level and the last detail. The estimate updates as you change them.
An estimate built from published 2026 cost guides. It is not a quote. Get a written quote before work starts.
Common questions
How much does Paycom cost?
About $25 to $36 per employee a month, plus a one time setup fee.
How does Paycom charge?
Per paycheck. That works out to a per employee monthly rate.
What is the setup fee?
Usually 15 to 30 percent of the yearly software cost.
Does Paycom publish prices?
No. You get a quote from a sales rep.