Paylocity costs $22 to $32 per employee a month in practice
Paylocity advertises a low base of about $5 per employee a month for its Basic tier, but most companies need the Standard or Comprehensive tier, which analysts put at $15 to $32 per employee a month. G2's comparison of core HR tools lists the working range as $22 to $32.
What Paylocity really costs
| Advertised base | About $5 per employee a month, Basic tier. |
|---|---|
| Practical range | $15 to $32 per employee a month. |
| G2 range | $22 to $32 per employee a month. |
| 100 staff | Roughly $2,200 to $3,200 a month at the G2 range. |
| Quotes | Custom. No public rate card for the upper tiers. |
What pushes a quote up
| Tier | Payroll is in every tier, but HR depth sits higher up. |
|---|---|
| Headcount | Per employee pricing, so the bill tracks staff. |
| Modules | Recruiting, learning and benefits add to the rate. |
| Implementation | A one off setup fee is normal. |
| Term | Annual contracts are standard. |
The advertised base is not the price you will pay
A $5 per employee headline and a $22 to $32 reality is the pattern across this whole category. The cheap tier exists, but it usually lacks the pieces a real HR team needs, so quotes land two to six times higher.
When you compare Paylocity with BambooHR or Paycor, put all three on the same footing: one number, per employee, per month, with the same modules switched on.
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
- Compare like for like, with the same modules on each quote.
- 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 the Basic tier leaves out before you price it.
- 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
Paylocity is strongest on payroll, and reviewers highlight the time card and batch handling. That is worth paying for if payroll is the pain point. If your pain is hiring and onboarding, get quotes that include those modules, because they change the per employee rate.
A practical tip: ask the rep to price your exact headcount for this year and for your planned headcount next year. Per employee pricing means a growth plan is also a budget plan.
Watch the implementation timeline too. Payroll rollouts usually run four to eight weeks, and you keep paying your old provider until the new one runs a full cycle clean. Budget for one month of overlap, and ask for the first month to be free if the go live date slips.
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 is Paylocity per employee?
About $22 to $32 a month in practice, though the Basic tier advertises near $5.
Does Paylocity publish prices?
No public rate card for the main tiers. Quotes are custom.
How does it compare with Paycor?
At 50 to 500 staff the two land in a similar band.
Is there an implementation fee?
Usually yes, quoted separately.