Phoenix: what paychecks leave after rent
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area: 2,375,760 jobs, median pay of $51,380 across all occupations, and a $1,493 one-bedroom Fair Market Rent.
The typical worker in Phoenix, earning the all-occupations median of $51,380, takes home about $3,622 a month after federal taxes. A one-bedroom at HUD's Fair Market Rent would take 41% of that. The median wage is 0.86× the income needed to keep that rent at 30% of gross pay, which falls short of the guideline.
Of the 10 jobs covered here, software developers have the most room (18% of take-home on a 1BR). Fast Food and Counter Workers are the most squeezed (60%).
Census figures add context: the ACS 2020–2024 5-year median gross rent paid by all renter households in the metro was $1,702 (±$8), and median household income was $88,301 (±$521).
Rent share of take-home pay, by job
All jobs in Phoenix
| Job | Median pay | Take-home / mo | Hours of work | 1BR share | Left after 1BR | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $131,750 | $8,443 | 23.6 h | 18% | $6,950 | 2.21× |
| Registered Nurse | $100,830 | $6,647 | 30.8 h | 22% | $5,154 | 1.69× |
| Police Officer | $85,050 | $5,722 | 36.5 h | 26% | $4,229 | 1.42× |
| Accountant or Auditor | $80,820 | $5,474 | 38.4 h | 27% | $3,981 | 1.35× |
| Electrician | $61,210 | $4,280 | 50.7 h | 35% | $2,787 | 1.02× |
| Truck Driver | $59,770 | $4,184 | 51.9 h | 36% | $2,691 | 1.00× |
| Elementary School Teacher | $59,180 | $4,144 | — h | 36% | $2,651 | 0.99× |
| Medical Assistant | $46,830 | $3,317 | 66.3 h | 45% | $1,824 | 0.78× |
| Retail Salesperson | $35,960 | $2,589 | 86.4 h | 58% | $1,096 | 0.60× |
| Fast Food Worker | $34,540 | $2,494 | 89.9 h | 60% | $1,001 | 0.58× |
HUD rent areas in this metro
| HUD FMR area | Population | 1BR | 2BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ MSA | 5,028,754 | $1,493 | $1,734 |
HUD treats the whole metro as one rent area.
Sources & method
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — metropolitan areas — vintage: May 2025 estimates. File:
oesm25ma.zip, retrieved 2026-10-06. - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD USER), Fair Market Rents, FY2027 — vintage: FY2027 (effective Oct 1, 2026). File:
FY27_FMRs.xlsx, retrieved 2026-10-05. - U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates: Median gross rent (B25064) — vintage: ACS 2020–2024 5-year. File:
acsdt5y2024-b25064.dat, retrieved 2026-10-05. - U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates: Median household income (B19013) — vintage: ACS 2020–2024 5-year. File:
acsdt5y2024-b19013.dat, retrieved 2026-10-05. - Internal Revenue Service, Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (tax year 2026 brackets, $16,100 standard deduction) and SSA's $184,500 wage base, used for the take-home estimate.
Take-home = annual wage − 2026 federal income tax (single filer, standard deduction) − Social Security and Medicare. State and local income taxes are not deducted. Wages are May 2025 estimates; rents are HUD Fair Market Rents FY2027 (effective Oct 1, 2026). Full details on the methodology page. Page data last rebuilt 2026-10-06.