What the data says about accountant pay in Phoenix
Here is how that number compares with the rest of the United States, with AZ, and with other jobs in Phoenix.
Accountant pay in Phoenix: national and in-state ranking
Directly above Phoenix is Miami (US$80,920); directly below is Jacksonville (US$79,960). The full range runs from US$78,650 in San Antonio to US$121,700 in San Jose.
With Phoenix as the sole AZ entry for accountants, the useful benchmarks are national: 19th of 21, -3% vs the median.
Cost of living and take-home in Phoenix
With a COL index of 100, there is little difference between headline pay and price-adjusted pay (US$80,800).
Cash rank and buying-power rank match for Phoenix: 19th of 21.
Take-home on the median comes to roughly US$6,000 monthly (11% effective tax in our simplified model). Rent for a modeled 1-bedroom is 28% of it, and the single-adult budget ends about US$2,490 in the black.
Phoenix vs similar-cost metros
New York (similar cost level, COL 100) pays US$105,650, 31% more than Phoenix; modeled monthly leftover is US$1,610 higher.
A accountant moving from Phoenix to Los Angeles (similar cost level, COL 100) would see the median rise 17% to US$94,360, with US$880 more left over monthly in our model.
Chicago (similar cost level, COL 100) pays US$82,360, 2% more than Phoenix; modeled monthly leftover is US$100 higher.
Where Accountant ranks among Phoenix jobs
Of the 9 roles we track in Phoenix, Accountant is 8th by median; the highest is Lawyer (US$135,670).
Closest neighbours in the Phoenix list: Financial Analyst at US$94,700 (+17%) and Frontend Developer at US$76,230 (-6%).
Entry-level vs senior accountant pay in Phoenix
Phoenix is relatively stronger at the entry end: its 10th-percentile pay (US$58,000) ranks 14th of 21, while its 90th percentile (US$129,170) ranks 20th.
For the top 10% of earners, San Jose leads with US$196,890 at the 90th percentile, +52% against Phoenix.
How wide accountant pay runs in Phoenix
The 90th percentile (US$129,170) is 2.2× the 10th (US$58,000), a wide band that usually reflects different seniority levels and employer types under one title.