Survey Finds Employee Caution Around AI in Payroll Persists

SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 46% of respondents say they are uncomfortable with artificial intelligence (AI) being used in payroll processes, according to PayrollOrg's 2026 "Getting Paid In America" survey, indicating employee hesitation around AI's role in payroll remains.

The annual survey asked respondents, "How comfortable are you with artificial intelligence being used in payroll processes?" Of the 9,451 individuals who answered the question, 24% said they were somewhat uncomfortable and 22% said they were very uncomfortable. In comparison, only 25% said they were somewhat or very comfortable with AI being used in payroll.

"As AI becomes more integrated into the workplace, payroll leaders have an opportunity to help employees understand how the technology is being used and how it can support payroll processes," said Dan Maddux, executive director of PayrollOrg®. "Building trust and transparency alongside new AI capabilities will be important as organizations consider how the technology can strengthen payroll operations."

The findings echo PayrollOrg's 2024 survey, when 39% of respondents said they were uncomfortable with AI calculating their pay and 53% were uncomfortable with AI tools answering payroll questions instead of a person.

"When it comes to AI, payroll is at an inflection point, still largely in evaluation and pilot mode while the rest of the business moves from experimentation to transformation," said Patrick Tripp, senior director of product marketing at UKG. "Twenty-five percent of organizations have moved meaningful AI experiments into production, yet only 11% of payroll teams are using AI features in their technology. Most organizations are experimenting; far fewer are operationalizing."

"Payroll must navigate regulatory complexity, financial accuracy, and employee trust in ways most departments don't. But caution cannot become stagnation," Tripp continued. "The organizations that lead will redesign payroll around AI as a foundational capability—not simply add it on top. That choice will shape the next decade of payroll transformation and determine whether AI remains a nice-to-have or becomes a competitive advantage."

PayrollOrg, the leader in payroll education and training, conducts the annual "Getting Paid In America" survey to examine how employees in America receive their pay, understand their deductions, and interact with their payroll information. One of the longest-running surveys on employee pay practices, the survey provides insight into evolving pay practices and the role payroll plays in workers' financial lives.

The "Getting Paid In America" survey was conducted as part of PayrollOrg's annual public awareness campaign, National Payroll Week®, held September 7–11, 2026. The survey gathered insights from 11,171 respondents nationwide. Complete survey results will be available later this year at nationalpayrollweek.com.

About PayrollOrg

PayrollOrg (PAYO) is the global leader in payroll education, certification, and professional development. Established in 1982 as the American Payroll Association, PAYO provides payroll professionals and organizations worldwide with trusted training, publications, and compliance resources to advance the profession and navigate the evolving payroll landscape.

SOURCE PayrollOrg