The minimum wage in Phoenix is $15.15/hour in 2026. See how it compares to the MIT living wage of $20.50/hour and local cost of living.
Last updated: May 2026 · Data: MIT Living Wage Calculator, C2ER, U.S. Census, BLS, IRS, state and city sources
Calculate annual, monthly, and weekly income at any hourly wage in Phoenix.
The minimum wage in Phoenix is the Arizona statewide rate of $15.15/hour. Phoenix does not set a separate city minimum wage, so the Arizona statewide minimum applies; Arizona adjusts that rate each January for inflation. The bigger question for most workers is how that compares to what it actually costs to live in Phoenix. With average 1-bedroom rent near $1,400/month and a cost-of-living index of 96 (US average = 100), the gap between the minimum wage and a true living wage is significant.
| Benchmark (Phoenix, 2026) | Hourly | Annual (full-time) |
|---|---|---|
| Applicable minimum wage | $15.15 | $31,512 |
| MIT living wage (single adult) | $20.50 | $42,640 |
| MIT living wage (family of four, one earner) | $41.50 | $86,320 |
| Federal minimum wage | $7.25 | $15,080 |
| Average rent (1-bedroom, annual) | - | $16,800 |
Living wage figures: MIT Living Wage Calculator for Maricopa County. Minimum wage reflects the rate applicable to most private employers in Phoenix.
Phoenix is the largest city in Arizona and the fifth-largest in the United States, anchoring a fast-growing Sun Belt metro with major employers in semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, healthcare, finance and insurance, aerospace, and a booming data-center and technology sector.
| Local Metric | Phoenix (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Metro population | 1.65 million |
| County / jurisdiction | Maricopa County |
| Cost of living index (US avg = 100) | 96 |
| MIT living wage, single adult | $20.50/hour |
| MIT living wage, one earner supporting a family of four | $41.50/hour |
| Applicable minimum wage | $15.15/hour |
| Average rent, 1-bedroom | $1,400/month |
| Average rent, 2-bedroom | $1,750/month |
| Median home price | $430,000 |
| Median household income | $76,000/year |
| Combined sales tax rate | 8.6% |
| Effective property tax rate | 0.51% of value/year |
Local figures are 2026 estimates compiled from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, the C2ER Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census and Zillow housing data, and city and county sources. Verify current figures before relying on them.
The minimum wage in Phoenix is the Arizona statewide rate of $15.15/hour. Phoenix does not set a separate city minimum wage, so the Arizona statewide minimum applies; Arizona adjusts that rate each January for inflation. A full-time worker (40 hours/week, 52 weeks) earns about $31,512 per year gross before taxes at that rate.
Not for a single adult. The MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates a single adult in Maricopa County needs about $20.50/hour (roughly $42,640/year) to cover basic costs. That is $5.35/hour above the applicable minimum wage, and a one-earner family of four needs closer to $41.50/hour.
At $15.15/hour, full-time work (2,080 hours/year) produces about $31,512 gross. Part-time at 30 hours/week is roughly $23,634/year. Average 1-bedroom rent in Phoenix is about $1,400/month, or $16,800/year.
Phoenix does not set a separate city minimum wage, so the Arizona statewide minimum applies; Arizona adjusts that rate each January for inflation.
The federal minimum wage is $7.25/hour and has not changed since 2009. Arizona sets a state minimum wage above the federal floor and adjusts it each January for inflation, so that higher rate applies in Phoenix instead of the federal $7.25.