HR Assistant salary in Phoenix-Mesa, AZ
No other area in Arizona pays HR assistants more than Phoenix-Mesa: the median is $50,140 a year1. That is 4.7% above the Arizona statewide median of $47,890, and about level with the US median of $50,610. Among US areas it comes in at #129 of 384. With about 1,080 HR assistants, 72% of the Arizona total, no area in Arizona employs more.
BLS occupation 43-4161, 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 | $40,200 | $50,140 | $61,570 | |
| Arizona | $38,250 | $47,890 | $61,090 | |
| United States | $37,340 | $50,610 | $68,280 |
The middle half of HR assistants in Phoenix-Mesa earns $43,920–$57,670. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $61,570, only 1.5 times the bottom tenth, against 1.8 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $13,750 wide, against $14,120 across Arizona and $15,770 nationally: employers in Phoenix-Mesa pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an HR assistant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40,200 | $3,350 | $19.33 | $51,871 |
| 25th percentile | $43,920 | $3,660 | $21.12 | $56,671 |
| Median | $50,140 | $4,178 | $24.11 | $64,697 |
| 75th percentile | $57,670 | $4,806 | $27.73 | $74,413 |
| 90th percentile | $61,570 | $5,131 | $29.60 | $79,445 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $7,530 a year in pay and about $9,716 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $6,220 in pay. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $50,610 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Phoenix-Mesa, and the Arizona statewide median of $47,890 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Phoenix-Mesa
At the $50,140 median, a local hire costs about $64,697 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $14,557 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 HR assistants 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 fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Phoenix-Mesa
Of the 17 roles we track in Phoenix-Mesa, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between payroll specialists ($50,350) and e-commerce order specialists ($48,920). Project Coordinator is the highest at $100,780.
| Role | Median | vs HR assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | +3.7% | 16,280 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +0.4% | 2,650 | |
| HR Assistant | this role | 1,080 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -2.4% | 620 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -2.7% | 22,010 |
Measured against the US median, HR assistants rank #10 of the 17 roles we track in Phoenix-Mesa (-0.9%), between paralegals (-0.4%) and project coordinators (-1.5%). The typical role here is at -0.4%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. HR assistants hold 0.4% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Phoenix-Mesa, 0.4% across Arizona and 0.6% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Arizona
Across the 5 areas of Arizona with data for this job, the median runs from $38,250 in Yuma to $50,140 in Phoenix-Mesa, a gap of $11,890 a year. No other area in Arizona has as many HR assistants, and all 4 others pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Phoenix-Mesa | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa, AZ | this area | 1,080 | |
| Flagstaff, AZ | -6.7% | 40 | |
| Arizona (Nonmetro) | -8.0% | 40 | |
| Tucson, AZ | -8.6% | 180 | |
| Yuma, AZ | -23.7% | 60 |
Phoenix-Mesa against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Phoenix-Mesa is #16 of 382 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Arizona, Parkersburg-Vienna and Green Bay pay just above Phoenix-Mesa and Chambersburg and Carson City just below. All four are within $180 a year of the median in Phoenix-Mesa. Of the three markets with about as many HR assistants, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Phoenix-Mesa | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH | +14.6% | 1,150 | jobs | |
| Green Bay, WI | +0.1% | 100 | pay | |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | +0.0% | 60 | pay | |
| Phoenix-Mesa, AZ | this area | 1,080 | ||
| Chambersburg, PA | -0.1% | 40 | pay | |
| Carson City, NV | -0.4% | 60 | pay | |
| Houston-Pasadena, TX | -2.5% | 1,140 | jobs | |
| Las Vegas-Henderson, NV | -4.5% | 970 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an HR assistant in Phoenix-Mesa, AZ?
About $64,697 a year at the median, or $5,391 a month: $50,140 in pay plus about $14,557 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do HR assistants earn in Phoenix-Mesa?
The median was $50,140 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $40,200, the 90th $61,570, and the middle half earned $43,920 to $57,670.
Is Phoenix-Mesa the most expensive area in Arizona for HR assistants?
Yes. Its median of $50,140 is the highest of 5 areas in Arizona. Flagstaff comes next at $46,800.
How many HR assistants work in Phoenix-Mesa?
BLS counts about 1,080 in the May 2025 survey. That is 72% of the Arizona total of 1,490. No other area in Arizona has as many.
Does an HR assistant cost more than an e-commerce order specialist in Phoenix-Mesa?
Yes: $1,220 a year more at the median. The medians are $50,140 and $48,920.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4161: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.