Find your hub in Greater Phoenix
In this new era of office operations, companies are prioritizing markets that meet their needs for in-office, hybrid or remote work styles. Greater Phoenix has emerged as a preferred destination for companies seeking a blend of a competitive operating environment with lifestyle offerings that drive employment retention.
Advanced Business Services Industry Report
Get our 28-page, in-depth report on the advanced business services ecosystem in Greater Phoenix.
Large Existing Cluster
There has been 20% job growth in core ABS industries since 2014, aligned with regional finance & insurance and headquarters expansion.
Robust Workforce
Greater Phoenix offers a highly specialized workforce for the ABS, finance and insurance, and back office industries, enabling quick hiring and efficient operations.
Exceptional Talent Pipeline
Specialized programs at universities across the state train top talent. Arizona provides university alignment and partnerships to match talent to employers.
Competitive Operating Costs
In addition to affordable real estate compared to peer markets, Greater Phoenix provides a number of quality programs to further decrease your business’ operating costs.
Modernized Infrastructure
Freeway expansions, consistent and reliable power coverage, and large airport access make Greater Phoenix a dependable market.
Quality of Life
Along with lower cost of living compared to other major metros, Greater Phoenix offers shorter commute times for more free time and more than 300 days of sunshine annually.
Large Existing Cluster
What is Advanced Business Services (ABS)?
Advanced Business Services is a complex and diverse sector that covers a wide variety of specializations and operations. This includes core operations like administrative services, finance and insurance, management services and professional services, as well as front office, back office and headquarters.
Market-leading firms in core ABS industries have critical operations in Greater Phoenix. These companies employ tens of thousands of people in their office locations. Below is a sample of the top ABS employers in the region.
Headquarters
The region has developed an ecosystem that supports businesses in managing a local, national or worldwide workforce and supply chain. From this, more than 100 nationally recognized companies in a wide variety of industry call Greater Phoenix their regional or global headquarters. Below are some of the largest:
Finance & Insurance
Greater Phoenix is home to a number of companies producing disruptive technology in the finance and insurance space. The region can support both startups and transplants, which has led to a number of fintech and insurtech companies moving to the region to join the numerous leading firms that have a significant presence.
Finance leaders:
Insurance leaders:
Major Finance & Insurance Companies in Greater Phoenix
Explore the interactive map below to see more big players in the Greater Phoenix market.
Robust Workforce
Specialized ABS Workforce
Greater Phoenix offers a competitive work environment with a robust supply of employees to ensure positions of all levels and in all departments of ABS, back office, finance and insurance, and others are filled quickly. With dedicated university programs and a large existing cluster, new to market and growing industry leaders in finance and insurance are sure to find success in the region.
Qualified Local Employment
More than 400,000 employees in relevant occupations call Greater Phoenix home. Explore some of the leading roles for advanced business services below, with comparisons to peer markets.
| Occupation | Phoenix | Atlanta | Charlotte | Dallas | Denver | San Francisco | Tampa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
General and Operations Managers |
74,607 |
71,256 |
21,809 |
136,774 |
26,467 |
43,612 |
38,044 |
Software Developers |
26,949 |
36,633 |
20,539 |
65,357 |
28,214 |
77,033 |
14,683 |
Secretaries & Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, & Executive |
24,898 |
31,986 |
13,975 |
44,548 |
18,572 |
22,732 |
15,021 |
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers |
24,497 |
30,242 |
10,866 |
53,375 |
15,199 |
20,079 |
17,502 |
Accountants and Auditors |
20,811 |
31,766 |
16,369 |
35,755 |
22,860 |
26,835 |
15,919 |
Computer User Support Specialists |
16,199 |
17,906 |
6,314 |
20,710 |
10,676 |
9,968 |
7,625 |
Human Resources Specialists |
15,845 |
21,943 |
9,062 |
30,047 |
12,776 |
18,353 |
11,160 |
Management Analysts |
14,768 |
29,937 |
8,078 |
18,426 |
9,288 |
24,366 |
10,665 |
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists |
14,451 |
18,509 |
9,022 |
22,199 |
17,229 |
23,870 |
9,227 |
Financial Managers |
11,881 |
17,112 |
8,968 |
24,893 |
7,944 |
18,589 |
8,190 |
Source: Lightcast 2025 Q4 Dataset
35%
The regional ABS workforce is 35% more concentrated than national average.
100+
Corporate and regional headquarters in Greater Phoenix
404577
Employees in related occupations in Greater Phoenix
Download the full industry analysis for more on the ABS and finance workforce.
Exceptional Talent Pipeline
Innovative Training Programs
Arizona’s institutions of higher education are training the workforce of the future via innovative partnerships and high-quality programs. Whether you are a startup or are looking to relocate your company operations to Greater Phoenix, the region offers easy hiring thanks to a quality workforce pipeline while also driving additional talent to the region due to the excellent quality of life.
Arizona State University (ASU)
ASU has been named the most innovative school by U.S. News & World Report every year since 2015 and has been ranked in the top 1% of the world’s most prestigious universities by Times Higher Education. ASU has partnered with firms, institutions and organizations including the Association for Corporate Growth and National Association of Corporate Directors to produce a high-quality workforce. More than 19,000 students are enrolled in ASU’s highly regarded W.P. Carey School of Business.
University of Arizona (U of A)
With its primary campus in Tucson, Arizona, and secondary campus in Phoenix, U of A offers a variety of programs significant to ABS employers such as accounting, management and business analytics. U of A’s highly regarded Eller College of Management enrolls more than 8,000 future professionals annually, and the management information systems program is ranked No. 1 among public universities.
Industry-Leading Education Programming
ASU, U of A and other colleges and universities in Greater Phoenix offer programming to ensure high-level education for the future workforce. Below is a small sampling of opportunities.
AZNext @ ASU W.P. Carey
This public-private workforce accelerator partnership funded by the U.S. Department of Labor connects colleges at ASU, including W.P. Carey with employers, chambers and industry leaders.
Eller Partnerships Office
This initiative allows immersive projects with real-world companies, offers students executive-in-residence opportunities and launched the Consortium for Environmentally Resilient Business.
Maricopa Community Colleges
Maricopa Community Colleges offers certification related to the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) to prepare students for CPA exams and pre-licensure.
Local graduates
Greater Phoenix produced more than 7,000 graduates in programs relevant to advanced business services in the 2023-24 school year, including legal professions and studies programs, social sciences programs, and business, management, marketing, and related support services.
|
Certificate |
Associate |
Bachelor |
Master |
Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1,485 |
425 |
4,468 |
1,024 |
344 |
Source: Lightcast 2025 Q4 Dataset
0.5%
U of A is ranked among the top 0.5% of global universities.
10
ASU's finance and management undergraduate programs are ranked top-10 nationally.
15
Maricopa County Community Colleges District and Central Arizona College operate 15 campuses in the region.
Competitive Operating Costs
Keep Costs Down in Greater Phoenix
Greater Phoenix provides a strong value proposition for finance and insurance operations, with lower operating costs and a larger labor pool than many of its peer markets. When compared to markets like Atlanta, Charlotte and Dallas, Greater Phoenix has significantly lower labor costs.
Arizona Tax Environment vs. Competitor Markets
Greater Phoenix has competitive operating costs for office businesses relocating and starting operations compared to other top markets. The region has lower employee payroll costs, property taxes and unemployment insurance and workers comp. costs than peer metros like Atlanta, Dallas and Denver.
Annual Operating Cost Analysis – Advanced Business Services
| Metro | Employee Payroll | Benefits | Real Estate | Property Tax | Total Operating Cost | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Phoenix |
$13,326,128 |
$2,120,202 |
$1,716,000 |
$2,259 |
$17,164,589 |
100.0% |
Atlanta |
$14,401,907 |
$2,309,310 |
$1,872,500 |
$79,900 |
$18,663,617 |
108.7% |
Charlotte |
$14,263,052 |
$2,297,102 |
$1,943,000 |
$48,240 |
$18,551,394 |
108.1% |
Dallas |
$14,750,124 |
$2,355,344 |
$1,603,500 |
$114,739 |
$18,823,707 |
109.7% |
Denver |
$15,600,074 |
$2,511,376 |
$1,917,500 |
$118,345 |
$20,147,295 |
117.4% |
San Francisco |
$18,388,148 |
$2,959,849 |
$4,236,000 |
$91,000 |
$25,674,997 |
149.6% |
Tampa |
$13,324,037 |
$2,132,943 |
$1,750,000 |
$64,487 |
$17,271,467 |
100.6% |
Metro comparison: Annual Operating Cost vs. Total Jobs
8.6%
Average sales tax rate
Source: Tax Foundation, 2024
4.9%
Average corporate income tax rate
Source: Tax Foundation, 2024
$0.87
Workers comp. rate (per $100 payroll)
Source: Tax Foundation, 2024
Modernized Infrastructure
Reliable Power
Greater Phoenix has one of the most reliable power grids in the nation, giving consistent power support to the office industry throughout the region. With 71% fewer natural disasters than the adjacent state of California, operations can rest easy knowing operations and productivity are rarely disrupted by outside factors. From 2014-23, Arizona recorded only 16 total hours of power outages.
Grid System
Greater Phoenix was built in the age of the automobile, meaning the streets and highways were created for vehicles, featuring a well-planned grid system that provides convenient access to other west coast markets.
Airline Connectivity
Ideally situated in the southwest, Greater Phoenix not only meets airport logistic demands with cross-country flights and quick access to major metros in California and Texas, but serves as a direct carrier to and from Mexico, Canada, Asia and Europe.
Download the full industry analysis for more on costs, taxes and infrastructure.
Quality of Life
Experience a vibrant lifestyle and diverse culture
Enjoy the outdoors with more than 300 days of sunshine, average temperatures of 75 degrees, convenient access to over 400 hiking trails and globally recognized sporting events. Take part in a vibrant arts and culture scene that includes prominent classical arts to public art to craft markets and a diverse range of music and cultural events. And, eat well with fresh farmers markets in every city, and globally recognized chefs and culinary experiences at your doorstep.
Calculate Your Cost of Living Savings in Greater Phoenix
Select your annual income, monthly mortgage, healthcare and grocery costs to find how much you would save with a move to Greater Phoenix.
Austin
Dallas
Denver
Los Angeles
Portland
San Francisco
Seattle
Annual Income
Monthly Mortgage
Monthly Healthcare
Monthly Groceries
Total Annual Savings
$
Source: C2ER 2025 Q3 Cost of Living Analysis; Zillow Research July 2025