Taper Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Tapers in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $60,430 a year — 11% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,434 take-home, or $4,119 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median taper salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,072
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,747
- Medicare (1.45%)$876
- Arizona income tax$1,302
- Take-home pay$49,434
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.50% state
Taper pay by experience in Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,460 | $19.93 | $34,665 | $2,889 |
| 25th percentile | $46,790 | $22.50 | $38,815 | $3,235 |
| Median (50th) | $60,430 | $29.05 | $49,434 | $4,119 |
| 75th percentile | $65,710 | $31.59 | $53,544 | $4,462 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,620 | $36.84 | $61,025 | $5,085 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,430 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median taper's $49,434 take-home pay has the buying power of $47,847 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Phoenix, AZ has 3.1× the national concentration of taper jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for tapers, adjusted for cost of living
Phoenix, AZ ranks #5 of 7 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $92,810 | $68,514 | $62,046 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $80,340 | $65,349 | $58,803 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $84,840 | $63,751 | $55,142 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $60,670 | $50,928 | $50,819 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $60,430 | $49,434 | $47,847 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $68,020 | $53,568 | $47,169 |
| 7 | Riverside, CA | $59,740 | $47,771 | $44,879 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 7 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a taper make in Phoenix, AZ?
The median taper salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $60,430 a year, or about $29.05 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,790 and $65,710.
What is a taper’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $60,430 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $49,434 a year ($4,119 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,302 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a taper?
Pay here is 11% below the national median of $68,270. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $47,847 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #5 of 7 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a taper afford rent in Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median taper’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Phoenix, AZ
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $79,840
- Construction and Building Inspector — $76,650
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $63,750
- Continuous Mining Machine Operator — $63,250
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $62,540
- Electrician — $61,210
- Carpenter — $60,320
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $59,540
- Brickmason and Blockmason — $59,390
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $59,260
- Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas — $58,750
- Glazier — $57,170