Payroll and Benefits Specialist Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Payroll and Benefits Specialist roles qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship as a specialty occupation requiring a bachelor's degree in accounting, human resources, or a related field. Employers in this space file Labor Condition Applications with the DOL to certify prevailing wage compliance before sponsoring your visa.
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Get Access To All JobsPosition Summary
The Senior Payroll & Benefits Specialist manages accurate, timely payroll processing and benefits administration, including U.S. multi-state payroll compliance, international payroll coordination, and Employer of Record (EOR) payroll setup and execution. As a member of the People Operations team, this role also supports payroll reporting, audits, leave administration, employee onboarding and offboarding, and other departmental projects.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage end-to-end U.S. multi-state payroll, including payroll changes, deductions, reconciliations, and coordination of federal, state, and local tax compliance.
- Coordinate international payrolls with local providers, ensuring accurate inputs, timely processing, and resolution of payroll issues.
- Set up and execute payroll through EOR partners, including employee setup, payroll approvals, funding coordination, and ongoing reconciliation.
- Administer employee benefits, including enrollments, qualifying life events, terminations, open enrollment, and payroll deductions.
- Prepare and reconcile payroll reports; partner with Finance on payroll journal entries, accruals, and related reporting.
- Support 401(k), workers’ compensation, and other payroll and benefits audits by preparing records, reconciling data, responding to requests, and resolving discrepancies.
- Coordinate leave-of-absence administration with third-party administrators (TPAs), including applications, supporting documentation, payroll and benefits adjustments, employee communications, and applicable compliance requirements.
- Support workers’ compensation administration, including applications, payroll reporting, coordination with carriers and TPAs, and related compliance documentation.
- Support onboarding and offboarding, including HRIS updates, benefits communications, and final-pay coordination.
- Maintain accurate, confidential employee records; respond to payroll and benefits inquiries; and support compliance activities, process improvements, and other People Operations projects.
Qualifications
- 5+ years of payroll and benefits administration experience, including hands-on U.S. multi-state payroll compliance.
- Experience coordinating international payrolls and implementing and processing payroll through EOR providers.
- Experience with payroll reporting, 401(k) and workers’ compensation audit support, and leave-of-absence coordination with TPAs.
- Strong payroll/HRIS systems proficiency, Excel skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage sensitive information.
- Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Physical and Environmental Considerations:
- Must be able to sit/stand for long periods of time.
- Required use of standard office equipment including laptop, phone, copier, etc.
- Typical office environment.
- Must be able to walk through the factory environment safely.
The hiring range represents what Mevion Medical Systems, Inc. reasonably expects to pay for this position at the time of posting. The actual salary offered will depend on the selected candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and other job-related factors.
Position Summary
The Senior Payroll & Benefits Specialist manages accurate, timely payroll processing and benefits administration, including U.S. multi-state payroll compliance, international payroll coordination, and Employer of Record (EOR) payroll setup and execution. As a member of the People Operations team, this role also supports payroll reporting, audits, leave administration, employee onboarding and offboarding, and other departmental projects.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage end-to-end U.S. multi-state payroll, including payroll changes, deductions, reconciliations, and coordination of federal, state, and local tax compliance.
- Coordinate international payrolls with local providers, ensuring accurate inputs, timely processing, and resolution of payroll issues.
- Set up and execute payroll through EOR partners, including employee setup, payroll approvals, funding coordination, and ongoing reconciliation.
- Administer employee benefits, including enrollments, qualifying life events, terminations, open enrollment, and payroll deductions.
- Prepare and reconcile payroll reports; partner with Finance on payroll journal entries, accruals, and related reporting.
- Support 401(k), workers’ compensation, and other payroll and benefits audits by preparing records, reconciling data, responding to requests, and resolving discrepancies.
- Coordinate leave-of-absence administration with third-party administrators (TPAs), including applications, supporting documentation, payroll and benefits adjustments, employee communications, and applicable compliance requirements.
- Support workers’ compensation administration, including applications, payroll reporting, coordination with carriers and TPAs, and related compliance documentation.
- Support onboarding and offboarding, including HRIS updates, benefits communications, and final-pay coordination.
- Maintain accurate, confidential employee records; respond to payroll and benefits inquiries; and support compliance activities, process improvements, and other People Operations projects.
Qualifications
- 5+ years of payroll and benefits administration experience, including hands-on U.S. multi-state payroll compliance.
- Experience coordinating international payrolls and implementing and processing payroll through EOR providers.
- Experience with payroll reporting, 401(k) and workers’ compensation audit support, and leave-of-absence coordination with TPAs.
- Strong payroll/HRIS systems proficiency, Excel skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage sensitive information.
- Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Physical and Environmental Considerations:
- Must be able to sit/stand for long periods of time.
- Required use of standard office equipment including laptop, phone, copier, etc.
- Typical office environment.
- Must be able to walk through the factory environment safely.
The hiring range represents what Mevion Medical Systems, Inc. reasonably expects to pay for this position at the time of posting. The actual salary offered will depend on the selected candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and other job-related factors.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Payroll and Benefits Specialist
Document your degree field carefully
H-1B eligibility hinges on a direct link between your degree and the payroll or benefits function. A degree in business administration is weaker than one in accounting or HR, so gather transcripts and any equivalency evaluations before you apply.
Target employers with PERM filing history
Companies that have filed PERM labor certifications for HR or finance roles already understand the sponsorship pipeline for this occupation. Use Migrate Mate to identify these employers and prioritize them in your outreach.
Verify prevailing wage before negotiating offers
Your employer must pay at least the DOL prevailing wage for your location and role level. Run the OFLC Wage Search for the payroll specialist occupation before you receive an offer, so you know the floor the LCA must certify.
Clarify HRIS system experience in applications
Employers sponsoring payroll roles want proof the specialty occupation threshold is met. Detailing your experience with complex payroll platforms and benefits administration systems strengthens the employer's case that your role requires a specifically credentialed professional.
Ask HR about the LCA timeline before accepting
The employer must file and receive DOL certification of the LCA before USCIS can adjudicate your H-1B petition. Ask during offer negotiations how long their legal team typically takes to prepare the LCA, since delays can affect your start date.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment if you need STEM OPT
If you're extending OPT under a STEM-designated degree in accounting, finance, or HR information systems, your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify. Payroll departments at smaller companies sometimes aren't enrolled yet, so confirm this before accepting an offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Payroll and Benefits Specialist role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, provided the employer documents that the position normally requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a directly related field such as accounting, human resources, or business administration. Generalist roles with loosely defined duties can draw USCIS scrutiny, so the job description should tie specific payroll and benefits responsibilities to a defined academic discipline rather than accepting any bachelor's degree.
Which visa types are realistic for international Payroll and Benefits Specialists?
H-1B is the primary path for most nationalities and covers this occupation as a specialty role. Australian citizens can use the E-3 visa, which has a separate cap and no lottery. Canadian and Mexican nationals may qualify under TN visa if the role maps to an accountant or other USMCA-listed profession. F-1 OPT and STEM OPT are available as bridge options while you pursue employer sponsorship.
How do I find employers who actively sponsor visas for payroll and HR roles?
Migrate Mate lists U.S. employers with verified LCA sponsorship history, searchable by role and location, so you can focus on companies that have already demonstrated willingness to sponsor payroll and benefits positions rather than cold-approaching employers who may be unfamiliar with the process.
Does a three-year Australian accounting or HR degree satisfy H-1B degree requirements?
USCIS generally accepts a three-year Australian bachelor's degree as equivalent to a U.S. four-year degree for specialty occupation purposes, but this equivalency is not automatic. A credential evaluation from a recognized service helps document the equivalency clearly and reduces the risk of a Request for Evidence challenging your educational background.
Can a Payroll and Benefits Specialist self-petition for a green card, or does the employer need to initiate it?
This occupation does not qualify for self-petition. An employer must sponsor you through the PERM labor certification process before filing an EB-2 or EB-3 immigrant petition. PERM requires the employer to test the U.S. labor market, document that no qualified U.S. workers are available, and obtain DOL certification before USCIS can approve the immigrant petition.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Payroll and Benefits Specialist jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.