Payroll Specialist salary in Phoenix-Mesa, AZ
Phoenix-Mesa pays payroll specialists close to the Arizona norm. The median is $50,350 a year1, about level with the Arizona statewide median of $50,210 and 13.6% below the US median of $58,260. Among US areas it comes in at #343 of 486. It is the largest market for the job in Arizona: about 2,650 people, 75% of the Arizona total.
BLS occupation 43-3051, 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 | $33,870 | $50,350 | $71,840 | |
| Arizona | $33,870 | $50,210 | $69,980 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Phoenix-Mesa earns $43,470–$61,490. The top tenth earns $71,840 or more, 2.1 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.1 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $18,020 wide, between the figure for Arizona ($17,300) and the US figure ($21,610).
What to budget for a payroll specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,870 | $2,822 | $16.28 | $43,703 |
| 25th percentile | $43,470 | $3,622 | $20.90 | $56,090 |
| Median | $50,350 | $4,196 | $24.21 | $64,968 |
| 75th percentile | $61,490 | $5,124 | $29.56 | $79,342 |
| 90th percentile | $71,840 | $5,987 | $34.54 | $92,697 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $11,140 over the median, the 25th only $6,880 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $14,374 a year in employer cost. 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 $58,260 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Phoenix-Mesa, and the Arizona statewide median of $50,210 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Phoenix-Mesa
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $14,618 to the $50,350 median and brings it to $64,968 a year. 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 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 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 #10 by median pay, between bookkeepers ($51,980) and HR assistants ($50,140). Project Coordinator is the highest at $100,780.
| Role | Median | vs payroll specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | +24.4% | 6,280 | |
| Bookkeeper | +3.2% | 16,280 | |
| Payroll Specialist | this role | 2,650 | |
| HR Assistant | -0.4% | 1,080 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -2.8% | 620 |
Measured against the US median, this job is the lowest paid of the 17 roles we track in Phoenix-Mesa (-13.6%); sales development representatives come first (+7.0%). The typical role here is at -0.4%, so, measured against the US, payroll specialists cost less in Phoenix-Mesa than the area's general pay level would suggest. Payroll specialists hold 1.0% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Phoenix-Mesa, 1.0% across Arizona and 1.0% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Arizona
Across the 8 areas of Arizona with data for this job, the median runs from $37,810 in Yuma to $53,390 in Flagstaff, a gap of $15,580 a year. No other area in Arizona has as many payroll specialists, and 6 of the other 7 pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Phoenix-Mesa | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff, AZ | +6.0% | 60 | |
| Phoenix-Mesa, AZ | this area | 2,650 | |
| Tucson, AZ | -2.5% | 330 | |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | -6.2% | 40 | |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | -9.5% | 50 | |
| Arizona (Nonmetro) | -14.2% | 100 | |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | -17.1% | 70 |
Phoenix-Mesa against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Phoenix-Mesa is #8 of 482 US areas, one of the ten largest markets for this job. Outside Arizona, Jonesboro and Jefferson City pay just above Phoenix-Mesa and South Bend-Mishawaka and Myrtle Beach-Conway just below. All four are within $150 a year of the median in Phoenix-Mesa. Of the three markets with about as many payroll specialists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Phoenix-Mesa | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH | +32.9% | 2,500 | jobs | |
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | +16.8% | 2,410 | jobs | |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL | +14.1% | 2,750 | jobs | |
| Jefferson City, MO | +0.1% | 70 | pay | |
| Jonesboro, AR | +0.0% | 40 | pay | |
| Phoenix-Mesa, AZ | this area | 2,650 | ||
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | -0.1% | 100 | pay | |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC | -0.3% | 60 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a payroll specialist in Phoenix-Mesa, AZ?
About $64,968 a year at the median, or $5,414 a month: $50,350 in pay plus about $14,618 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for payroll specialists in Phoenix-Mesa?
The median was $50,350 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $33,870, the 90th $71,840, and the middle half earned $43,470 to $61,490.
Is Phoenix-Mesa cheaper than the rest of Arizona for payroll specialists?
About the same: a median of $50,350 against $50,210 statewide. The next area up in Arizona is Flagstaff at $53,390, the next down Tucson at $49,090.
How many payroll specialists work in Phoenix-Mesa?
BLS counts about 2,650 in the May 2025 survey. That is 75% of the Arizona total of 3,540. No other area in Arizona has as many.
Does a payroll specialist cost more than an HR assistant in Phoenix-Mesa?
Yes: $210 a year more at the median. The medians are $50,350 and $50,140.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3051: 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.