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CFO.

Phoenix.

$250,000

median salary, 4% below the national average

$187,000 to $331,000. Last updated August 2026.

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Data points to own the conversation.

Orbyt estimates CFO pay in Phoenix at $250,000, within a range of $187,000 to $331,000. That is 4% below the national average. Phoenix is one of the fastest growing metros in the U. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.

Salary range.

25th Percentile

$187,000

per year

Median

$250,000

per year

75th Percentile

$331,000

per year

Where do you fall?

$187,000$331,000

Orbyt estimate for CFO in Phoenix, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.

Government benchmark for this occupation

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $138,900 for Chief Executives (SOC 11-1011) in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metropolitan area, based on 3,140 employed workers (May 2025 release).

10th percentile

$62,140

25th percentile

$81,360

Median

$138,900

75th percentile

$224,270

90th percentile

$455,660

Workers surveyed

3,140

Why this differs from the estimate above. The Orbyt estimate of $250,000 is 80% higher than this published figure. That is usually not an error in either number: BLS reports by occupation code, and Chief Executives covers a different population than the CFO title as it is typically advertised. Both are shown, unreconciled, so you can judge which one describes the job you mean.

BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Chief Executives (SOC 11-1011) rather than CFO specifically. The Phoenix range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.

View the BLS source for SOC 11-1011

Salary by experience.

The gap between entry and lead level is typically $225,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.

Entry (0-2 yrs)

$163,000

to $200,000

Mid (3-5 yrs)

$213,000

to $263,000

Senior (6-9 yrs)

$275,000

to $325,000

Lead (10+ yrs)

$313,000

to $388,000

Total compensation.

Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $67,000 to the total package.

Base

$250,000

Equity

$38,000

Bonus

$24,000

Signing

$5,000

Estimated total: $317,000

How Phoenix compares.

Phoenix, AZ

$250,000

Cost of living: 4% below average

National Average

$260,000

Phoenix is $10,000 below

CFO salary by city.

CFO salary comparison across 10 cities
CityMedianRangeCOLAdjusted
San Francisco, CA$358,000$269,000 to $475,0001.35x$265,000
San Jose, CA$344,000$258,000 to $457,0001.38x$249,000
Honolulu, HI$341,000$256,000 to $453,0001.30x$262,000
New York, NY$339,000$255,000 to $450,0001.28x$265,000
Washington DC, DC$338,000$254,000 to $449,0001.25x$270,000
Seattle, WA$326,000$244,000 to $432,0001.24x$263,000
Boston, MA$311,000$233,000 to $412,0001.22x$255,000
Los Angeles, CA$310,000$232,000 to $411,0001.18x$263,000
San Diego, CA$310,000$233,000 to $412,0001.17x$265,000
Phoenix, AZ$250,000$187,000 to $331,0000.96x$260,000

See all 81 cities for CFO →

Salary by role in Phoenix.

Salary comparison by role in Phoenix
RoleMedianRange
CTO$279,000$218,000 to $363,000
General Counsel$271,000$211,000 to $353,000
CEO$264,000$192,000 to $365,000
CFO$250,000$187,000 to $331,000
IC6 Engineer$233,000$182,000 to $303,000
CTO, AI Startup$227,000$178,000 to $297,000
AI Trading Strategist$219,000$170,000 to $284,000
Drug Discovery AI Researcher$211,000$165,000 to $274,000

What you should know.

If you are interviewing for CFO roles in Phoenix, here is what you are walking into. Phoenix is one of the fastest growing metros in the U.S., fueled by semiconductor manufacturing, financial services, and tech company expansions. Intel, TSMC, and other chipmakers have made massive investments in the area. The combination of affordable housing and rising salaries has made Phoenix increasingly attractive to relocating professionals. Company size measured by revenue and market capitalization drives the widest pay variation among CFOs. Fortune 500 CFOs earn three to five times more than mid-market counterparts. Industry also matters, with technology, financial services, and pharmaceutical CFOs commanding the highest packages. IPO and M&A transaction experience adds further premium.

VP of Finance roles pay $180,000 to $260,000 in base salary. CFOs at small companies ($10 million to $50 million revenue) earn $175,000 to $250,000. Mid-market CFOs ($50 million to $500 million) earn $250,000 to $400,000. Enterprise CFOs at $1 billion or more revenue companies command $400,000 to $800,000 base. In Phoenix, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.

Base salary is not the full picture. CFO total compensation far exceeds base salary. Annual bonuses of 40 to 75% of base, equity grants worth $200,000 to $2 million or more at public companies, and long-term incentive plans are standard. Total compensation at large companies commonly reaches $800,000 to $5 million. And on the tax side: arizona has a flat 2.5% income tax rate, one of the lowest in the nation. Phoenix has no additional city income tax, making overall take home pay very competitive. When someone quotes you $250,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.

On negotiation: Reference the influx of semiconductor and tech employers to justify higher offers. Phoenix salaries are rising fast, and employers know they must compete with coastal recruiters. The range for CFOs in Phoenix runs from $187,000 to $331,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.

Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology

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$

25th

$187,000

Median

$250,000

75th

$331,000

Considering a related role?

  • A CEO in Phoenix earns $264,000 (6% more)
  • The highest-paying role in Phoenix is CTO at $279,000

Common questions.

Company revenue is the strongest predictor of CFO pay. CFOs at companies with $50 million revenue earn approximately $200,000 to $300,000 total. At $500 million revenue, total compensation reaches $500,000 to $800,000. At $5 billion or more, CFO total packages commonly exceed $2 million to $5 million.

The highest-paid CFOs typically combine Big Four public accounting experience with investment banking or corporate development backgrounds. IPO experience, capital markets expertise, and board-level communication skills command the largest premiums. An MBA from a top program is nearly universal among Fortune 500 CFOs.

CFO total compensation far exceeds base salary. Annual bonuses of 40 to 75% of base, equity grants worth $200,000 to $2 million or more at public companies, and long-term incentive plans are standard. Total compensation at large companies commonly reaches $800,000 to $5 million. In Phoenix's market, the base range of $187,000 to $331,000 is just the starting point for negotiation.

Phoenix's cost of living multiplier is 0.96x the national average. The adjusted median CFO salary of $250,000 accounts for this. In practice, a CFO earning $250,000 in Phoenix has roughly the same purchasing power as someone earning $260,417 in an average cost market.

Lead with data: CFOs in Phoenix earn $187,000 to $331,000, so anchoring your ask near $331,000 gives room to land at the median. Reference the influx of semiconductor and tech employers to justify higher offers. Phoenix salaries are rising fast, and employers know they must compete with coastal recruiters. Never accept the first number without a conversation.

CFO hiring in Phoenix typically involves three to five rounds: a recruiter screen, a technical or skills assessment, one or two team interviews, and a final conversation with leadership. Companies in Phoenix's Semiconductor Manufacturing sector may add domain specific evaluations. The process usually takes two to four weeks. Prepare by researching the company and practicing with Orbyt's Interview Prep tool.

CFO salary in other cities.

Other salaries in Phoenix.

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"CFO Salary in Phoenix, AZ." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/cfo/phoenix

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