Cost of hiring an accountant in Phoenix-Mesa, AZ
Phoenix-Mesa is the most expensive place in Arizona to hire an accountant. The median is $80,820 a year[1], 1.1% above the Arizona statewide median of $79,970 and 3.4% below the US median of $83,680. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#109 of 521). With about 21,360 accountants, 78% of the Arizona total, no area in Arizona employs more.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Phoenix-Mesa against Arizona and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa, AZ | $58,000 | $80,820 | $129,170 | |
| Arizona | $55,430 | $79,970 | $128,890 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Phoenix-Mesa earns $66,340–$105,640. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $129,170, only 2.2 times the bottom tenth, against 2.6 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. The mean ($90,110) is 11% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median.
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $27.88 | $82,857 |
| 25th percentile | $66,340 | $5,528 | $31.89 | $94,771 |
| Median | $80,820 | $6,735 | $38.86 | $115,457 |
| 75th percentile | $105,640 | $8,803 | $50.79 | $150,914 |
| 90th percentile | $129,170 | $10,764 | $62.10 | $184,529 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $14,480 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $24,820, or about $35,457 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
What a hire really costs in Phoenix-Mesa
At the $80,820 median, a local hire costs about $115,457 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $34,637 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Phoenix-Mesa
Of the 17 roles we track in Phoenix-Mesa, this one ranks #2 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $100,780 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $39,340.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +24.7% | 17,790 | |
| Accountant | this role | 21,360 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -7.3% | 19,810 | |
| Recruiter | -7.6% | 15,430 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -7.7% | 12,220 | |
| Executive Assistant | -8.4% | 5,000 | |
| Office Manager | -19.0% | 23,940 | |
| Paralegal | -22.5% | 6,280 | |
| Bookkeeper | -35.7% | 16,280 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -37.7% | 2,650 | |
| HR Assistant | -38.0% | 1,080 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -39.5% | 620 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -39.6% | 22,010 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -42.3% | 13,570 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -42.6% | 68,930 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -45.4% | 2,650 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -51.3% | 16,850 |
Other areas in Arizona
Across the 8 areas of Arizona with data for this job, the median runs from $67,780 in Lake Havasu City-Kingman to $80,820 in Phoenix-Mesa, a gap of $13,040 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Phoenix-Mesa | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa, AZ | this area | 21,360 | |
| Flagstaff, AZ | -3.5% | 380 | |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | -3.8% | 500 | |
| Tucson, AZ | -5.6% | 2,570 | |
| Yuma, AZ | -5.6% | 390 | |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | -6.2% | 190 | |
| Arizona (Nonmetro) | -11.7% | 510 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Phoenix-Mesa, AZ?
About $115,457 a year at the median, or $9,621 a month: $80,820 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do accountants earn in Phoenix-Mesa?
The median was $80,820 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $58,000, the 90th $129,170, and the middle half earned $66,340 to $105,640.
Is Phoenix-Mesa the most expensive area in Arizona for accountants?
Yes. Its median of $80,820 is the highest of 8 areas in Arizona. Flagstaff comes next at $77,980.
How many accountants work in Phoenix-Mesa?
BLS counts about 21,360 in the May 2025 survey. That is 78% of the Arizona total of 27,410.
Does an accountant cost more than a sales development representative in Phoenix-Mesa?
Yes: $5,910 a year more at the median. The medians are $80,820 and $74,910.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132011.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-06.