Arizona workers often hear two terms—minimum wage and living wage—but they aren’t the same. The minimum wage is the legally required hourly pay floor, set at $14.70 statewide in 2025. The living wage, on the other hand, is an estimate of what it actually takes to cover essentials like housing, groceries, healthcare, and childcare. In […]

Budgeting in Arizona can feel overwhelming when salaries, taxes, and rising living costs collide. The key to successful financial planning is focusing on net income—the money you actually take home after taxes and deductions. A paycheck calculator gives you that clarity by factoring in federal withholding, Arizona’s flat 2.5% state income tax, Social Security, Medicare,

Choosing between two job offers in Arizona isn’t just about the highest salary—it’s about what you actually take home after taxes and deductions. That’s where an Arizona salary comparison calculator comes in. By entering your salary, bonuses, and benefits, the tool shows how much ends up in your paycheck, factoring in federal taxes, Social Security,

In 2025, Arizona workers saw their wages inch upward, but the paycheck didn’t stretch as far. While average compensation in Phoenix grew about 3.3%, essential costs like rent (+4%), groceries (+8.4%), and childcare (around $1,200 per month) rose even faster. For many households, that means a higher salary on paper but less real purchasing power.

Negotiating a salary in Arizona is more than just asking for a bigger number it’s about knowing what actually lands in your bank account. With federal taxes, Arizona’s flat 2.5% state income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and benefit deductions, your take-home pay can look very different from the gross offer. This guide shows you how

Employers in Arizona are responsible for paying the Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA), which funds unemployment benefits and workforce programs. While FUTA is a federal tax, it applies the same way in Arizona as in other states: employers pay tax on the first $7,000 of each employee’s annual wages. The standard FUTA rate is 6.0%, but

Arizona employers must follow federal FICA and Medicare rules when running payroll. These taxes fund Social Security and Medicare and are shared equally between employees and employers. For 2025, the Social Security rate is 6.2% up to $176,100, while Medicare is 1.45% with no cap. High earners also face an additional 0.9% Medicare tax, which

Managing paid sick leave in Arizona can be confusing for employers. Since the Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act went into effect, businesses of all sizes must provide sick time to their employees. The rules vary depending on company size, and payroll teams are responsible for tracking accrual, carryover, and usage correctly. This guide explains

Wage garnishment can feel confusing for both employees and employers in Arizona. With the passage of Proposition 209, the rules have changed, making the state’s limits stricter than federal standards. Today, most creditors can only take up to 10% of an employee’s disposable earnings, or the amount above 60 times the Arizona minimum wage. In

Employers in Arizona often ask a simple but important question: Do I need to give my employees paid meal or rest breaks? The answer depends on a mix of state law and federal requirements. Arizona does not mandate meal or rest breaks for adult employees, but federal labor standards still apply—and special protections exist for