Payroll tax is the Social Security and Medicare taxes. It's 15.3% up to $127,200/year with no deductions (i.e. the very first dollar you earn is taxed at that rate), then it drops to 2.9%. People typically don't realize how much it is because it's split into an employee and an employer half. The number printed on your paycheck will only show a 7.65% rate, but the employer is also paying another 7.65%.
Edit: I'd also like to explore what would happen if the entire 15% is invested in a 401k equivalent instead of receiving social security / medicare, how much more the average person would get in retirement.
It is quite possible that reducing the employer side of FICA wouldn't translate into a 1-to-1 higher paycheck, or even any increase at all. But the same is true of the employee's side, or of regular income tax, or any other tax.
Also, what do you mean by "payroll tax"?