Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in Arizona
The median payroll specialist in Arizona earned $50,210 a year in May 2025[1], 13.8% below the US median of $58,260. That puts Arizona at #45 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-3051. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $33,870 | $50,210 | $69,980 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Arizona earns $42,760–$60,060; the top tenth earns $69,980 or more, 2.1 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Arizona median that makes about $71,729 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for payroll specialists 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].
Pay by metro area in Arizona
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff, AZ | $60,060 | 60 | |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $61,490 | 2,650 | |
| Tucson, AZ | $58,890 | 330 | |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $55,990 | 40 | |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $52,300 | 50 | |
| Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $52,910 | 100 | |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $57,360 | 70 | |
| Yuma, AZ | $50,590 | 130 |
Flagstaff, AZ pays the most ($53,390) and Yuma, AZ the least ($37,810): $15,580 a year apart for the same job.
What a payroll specialist does
A payroll specialist prepares payroll runs, checks hours and deductions, keeps employee pay records and answers staff questions about their pay.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | +3.1% | |
| Louisiana | +1.2% | |
| Arizona | +0.0% | |
| Oklahoma | -0.6% | |
| South Dakota | -5.0% |
Questions
How much does a payroll specialist earn in Arizona?
The median was $50,210 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $42,760 to $60,060.
What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in Arizona?
About $71,729 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Arizona do payroll specialists earn the most?
Flagstaff, AZ, with a median of $53,390 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3051: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes433051.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 2026-11-05.