The Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metropolitan statistical area, as BLS defines it.
Pay data · metro area
Average Salary in Phoenix, AZ (2026)
The average salary in the Phoenix metro area is $69,630 a year and the median is $51,380: 1% above the US median and 3% above Arizona's (BLS, May 2025). At national-average prices the median is worth $49,730, 245th of 387 metro areas.
- Average (mean) salary
- $69,630US $69,770
- Median salary
- $51,380US $50,980
- Median hourly
- $24.70BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Price level
- 103.3US = 100 · BEA 2024
The spread
What workers in Phoenix earn
| Percentile | Phoenix area | Arizona | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,800 | $34,190 | $31,200 |
| 25th | $38,780 | $38,160 | $37,590 |
| 50th (median) | $51,380 | $50,060 | $50,980 |
| 75th | $79,220 | $77,830 | $80,520 |
| 90th | $125,130 | $120,180 | $128,560 |
| Mean | $69,630 | $67,620 | $69,770 |
Prices
Cost of living in Phoenix
BEA Regional Price Parities put the Phoenix area at 103.3 against a US average of 100. Matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $103,320 here. Compare with another city.
US = 100
- All items103.3
- Housing (rents)121.2
- Goods95
- Utilities93.3
- Other services104
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| All items | 103.3 |
| Housing (rents) | 121.2 |
| Goods | 95 |
| Utilities | 93.3 |
| Other services | 104 |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Common jobs
What common jobs pay in Phoenix
Mean annual wage in the Phoenix area against the national mean for the same occupation (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Occupation | Phoenix area | US mean | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $101,090 | $101,420 | 0% |
| Software Developer | $135,510 | $148,100 | -9% |
| Elementary School Teacher | $61,550 | $72,650 | -15% |
| Accountant | $90,110 | $94,750 | -5% |
| Electrician | $64,380 | $71,490 | -10% |
| Truck Driver | $59,800 | $59,710 | 0% |
| Customer Service Representative | $48,550 | $46,590 | +4% |
| Retail Salesperson | $38,580 | $37,310 | +3% |
| Nursing Assistant | $45,260 | $42,700 | +6% |
| General and Operations Manager | $132,100 | $134,940 | -2% |
| Maintenance and Repair Worker, General | $53,960 | $53,780 | 0% |
| Cook, Restaurant | $40,910 | $38,730 | +6% |
The jobs
Best-paying jobs in Phoenix
BLS publishes estimates for 614 occupations in this metro. Highest mean pay, and the large occupations this area pays furthest above their national average.
Highest-paying jobs
Mean annual wage
- 1Airline Pilot$237,520
- 2General Internal Medicine Physician$230,980
- 3Chief Executive$198,290
- 4Computer and Information Research Scientist$195,400
- 5Architectural and Engineering Manager$187,930
- 6Veterinarian$186,850
- 7Dentist$181,940
- 8IT Manager$174,740
- 9Economics Teacher, Postsecondary$166,780
- 10Financial Manager$164,050
Jobs Phoenix pays above the national average
Occupations with 100,000+ US workers
- 1Bartender$55,870 · +37%
- 2Server$53,370 · +33%
- 3Cook, Short Order$45,490 · +26%
- 4Neurodiagnostic Technologist$73,320 · +25%
- 5Animal Caretaker$46,050 · +23%
- 6Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutter and Trimmer$47,400 · +21%
- 7Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper$40,560 · +18%
- 8Host and Hostess, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$38,730 · +18%
- 9Teaching Assistant, Postsecondary$55,800 · +17%
- 10Parts Salesperson$51,060 · +16%
Compare
Other metro areas in Arizona
Method
About these numbers
- All-occupations wages for the metro are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 estimates (api.bls.gov). Wage and salary workers only; excludes the self-employed.
- Pay by occupation is the OEWS May 2025 mean for that occupation in this metro, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 prevailing-wage file. Only figures BLS estimated for this metro itself are used, never state or national fallbacks.
- Price levels are BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. Price-adjusted pay is a NueCareer calculation (wage ÷ RPP/100).
Questions
Average salary in Phoenix: FAQ
What is the average salary in Phoenix?
Across all occupations in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area, the average (mean) annual wage is $69,630 and the median is $51,380, 1% above the US median (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That covers 2,375,760 wage and salary jobs.
What is a good salary in Phoenix?
Above $51,380 out-earns half of workers in the Phoenix area; the top 25% start at $79,220 and the top 10% at $125,130. Prices run 3% above the national average (BEA, 2024), so matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $103,320 here.
Is Phoenix expensive to live in?
BEA's price level for the Phoenix metro is 103.3 (US = 100, 2024). Housing rents are 121.2, goods 95.0, utilities 93.3. At local prices the median wage is worth $49,730, 245th of 387 metros.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Phoenix?
By mean annual wage: Airline Pilot ($237,520), General Internal Medicine Physician ($230,980), Chief Executive ($198,290), Computer and Information Research Scientist ($195,400), Architectural and Engineering Manager ($187,930) (BLS OEWS May 2025, via the DOL wage file).