<ARTICLE>                   5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE AUGUST
31, 2000 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND RELATED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF PAYCHEX, INC., AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                      0000723531
<NAME>                     PAYCHEX, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>               1,000

                              
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                       MAY-31-2001
<PERIOD-START>                          JUN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                            AUG-31-2000
<CASH>                                       48,003
<SECURITIES>                              2,247,206
<RECEIVABLES>                               114,423
<ALLOWANCES>                                      0
<INVENTORY>                                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                          2,416,332
<PP&E>                                      198,749
<DEPRECIATION>                              123,173
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                            2,510,902
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                     1,885,176
<BONDS>                                           0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                             0
<PREFERRED>                                       0
<COMMON>                                      3,723
<OTHER-SE>                                  616,388
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>              2,510,902
<SALES>                                           0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            203,883
<CGS>                                             0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                45,927
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             79,130
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                  0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              84,360
<INCOME-TAX>                                 25,730
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          58,630
<DISCONTINUED>                                    0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                   0
<CHANGES>                                         0
<NET-INCOME>                                 58,630
<EPS-BASIC>                                     .16
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   .16