Salaries in Peoria, AZ
What every job actually pays โ cost-of-living adjusted
Updated: February 2026 ยท 39 occupations ยท BLS + Census data
You might think a Phoenix suburb like Peoria is all about sunshine and sprawl, but hereโs a counterintuitive truth: its median household income of $97,296 actually beats the national average. Thatโs not typical for a city of its size, and it signals a local economy punching above its weight.
Letโs talk purchasing power. Peoriaโs cost of living index sits at 105.5โslightly above the national averageโso your dollar doesnโt stretch as far as it might in, say, a Midwest city. A one-bedroom apartment runs you about $1,424 a month. That means the median household income feels adequate but not luxurious, especially if youโre a single earner. Itโs not a bargain, but itโs not a rip-off either; itโs a calculated trade-off for that Arizona lifestyle.
Whoโs thriving here? The data points to a familiar Arizona mix. Software developers are the clear winners, pulling in $129,359. Peoria isnโt a tech hub like Austin, but it benefits from the broader Phoenix metroโs tech spillover and remote work trends. Youโll also find solid pay for accountants ($87,500), likely serving the healthcare and construction firms that anchor the local economy. The cityโs population is nearing 200,000, and with a tight 3.8% unemployment rate, itโs a workerโs market if you have in-demand skills.
Hereโs my honest take: wages arenโt keeping pace with the creeping cost of living, especially for blue-collar trades. An electrician earns a respectable $62,565, but after adjusting for COL, thatโs really $59,303. Teachers and real estate agents face similar squeezes. Peoria works best for dual-income households or professionals in tech and finance. If youโre in a lower-earning field, you might feel the pinch.
The numbers below will break down who earns what, adjusted for what it actually costs to live there.
๐ Top 5 Highest-Paying Jobs in Peoria
Ranked by raw salary. See COL-adjusted figures in the full table below.
Software Developer
Accountant
Elementary School Teacher
Electrician
Real Estate Agent
๐ Complete Salary Guide โ All 39 Occupations in Peoria
COL-Adjusted Salary = Raw salary divided by the cost of living index (106/100). Higher = more real purchasing power. This city's COL is above the US average.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics. COL Index from C2ER/ACCRA.
๐๏ธ Living Costs in Peoria
๐งฎ Can You Afford to Live in Peoria?
Use our Salary Reality Check to see if your specific income covers housing, taxes, and expenses in Peoria. Enter your salary and see exactly how far your money goes.
โ Peoria Salary FAQ
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๐ Editor's Verdict: Is Peoria Worth It?
Hereโs my honest verdict: Peoria isnโt a gold rush, but itโs a solid bet if youโre in the right lane. With an average salary of $54,454 and a cost-of-living index of 105.5, youโre paying a slight premium over the national average, especially with rent at $1,424 a month. Itโs not cheap, but itโs not crushing you either.
The real winners here are software developers, pulling in $129,359 on average (or a COL-adjusted $122,615). Tech is clearly the golden ticket. Healthcare workers and skilled trades can do okay, but you wonโt be swimming in cash like the devs.
If youโre considering the move, especially in tech, youโll do well. For everyone else, run the numbers carefully. My advice? Negotiate hard for a salary that beats the local average. Donโt just match it. The cost of living is ticking up, and you want to be on the right side of that equation.