High paying jobs in Tucson, AZ that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Tucson, AZ and typically require less than a bachelor's degree to enter — a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or an associate's degree. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

Cost of living: prices in Tucson, AZ run 3.1% below the national average (2024), so a Tucson, AZ salary is worth about 1.03× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Tucson, AZ

OccupationMedian, Tucson, AZ · Employed

1Commercial Pilots$109,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$84,800 – $146,280150
2Detectives and Criminal Investigators$105,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,500 – $147,6401,620
3First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$101,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$85,980 – $163,880450
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$96,910
Associate's degree
$77,000 – $117,060230
5Dental Hygienists$96,740
Associate's degree
$85,980 – $102,760490
6Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$92,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,800 – $159,760460
7Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$83,290
Associate's degree
$62,340 – $117,540520
8Avionics Technicians$80,620
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,980 – $97,720240
9Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$80,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,760 – $113,810180
10Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$78,810
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,500 – $89,100220
11Respiratory Therapists$78,320
Associate's degree
$60,440 – $93,390540
12Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$78,190
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,570 – $102,040150
13Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$76,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,990 – $100,5101,600
14Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$76,190
Associate's degree
$39,010 – $168,320260
15Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$75,940
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,890 – $87,8601,150
16Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$75,460
Associate's degree
$59,190 – $94,640560
17Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians$75,230
Associate's degree
$61,530 – $94,390210
18Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$73,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,690 – $90,850580
19Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$73,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,270 – $92,700860
20Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$73,340
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,690 – $91,7301,390
21First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$71,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,540 – $100,520300
22First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$71,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,990 – $98,0801,900
23Occupational Therapy Assistants$71,480
Associate's degree
$50,010 – $80,200160
24First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$70,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,500 – $114,190920
25Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$69,730
Associate's degree
$49,570 – $91,020280
26First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$68,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,120 – $151,390200
27First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$68,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,160 – $109,9702,000
28Architectural and Civil Drafters$68,640
Associate's degree
$46,520 – $99,450210
29Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$68,490
Associate's degree
$52,560 – $93,310190
30Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$66,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,990 – $102,990650
31Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$65,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,540 – $94,090720
32Physical Therapist Assistants$65,220
Associate's degree
$44,750 – $78,690260
33Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,550 – $94,880360
34Surgical Technologists$64,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,510 – $80,880340
35Transportation Security Screeners$64,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,080 – $70,550170
36Postal Service Mail Carriers$64,250
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $82,740870
37Postal Service Clerks$63,650
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030180
38Food Service Managers$63,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,410 – $100,030360
39Construction and Building Inspectors$63,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,780 – $100,980320
40Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$62,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,400 – $118,5502,110
41Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers$62,500
No formal educational credential
$40,940 – $63,010150
42Insurance Sales Agents$62,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,190 – $97,7001,330
43Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$62,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,970 – $132,4801,400
44First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$61,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,130 – $77,140180
45Paramedics$61,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,390 – $78,260380
46Continuous Mining Machine Operators$60,880
No formal educational credential
$49,700 – $74,450720
47Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$60,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,500 – $79,530580
48Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$60,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,610 – $97,2401,250
49Electricians$59,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,260 – $92,9301,340
50First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$59,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,340 – $84,6603,500

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianTucson, AZ	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$109,480	$84,800 – $146,280	150
2	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,350	$60,500 – $147,640	1,620
3	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,570	$85,980 – $163,880	450
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$96,910	$77,000 – $117,060	230
5	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$96,740	$85,980 – $102,760	490
6	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,580	$63,800 – $159,760	460
7	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$83,290	$62,340 – $117,540	520
8	Avionics TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,620	$62,980 – $97,720	240
9	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,530	$48,760 – $113,810	180
10	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,810	$36,500 – $89,100	220
11	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$78,320	$60,440 – $93,390	540
12	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,190	$62,570 – $102,040	150
13	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,970	$57,990 – $100,510	1,600
14	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,190	$39,010 – $168,320	260
15	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,940	$59,890 – $87,860	1,150
16	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,460	$59,190 – $94,640	560
17	Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,230	$61,530 – $94,390	210
18	Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,930	$58,690 – $90,850	580
19	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,410	$47,270 – $92,700	860
20	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,340	$51,690 – $91,730	1,390
21	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,590	$61,540 – $100,520	300
22	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,480	$49,990 – $98,080	1,900
23	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$71,480	$50,010 – $80,200	160
24	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,260	$46,500 – $114,190	920
25	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$69,730	$49,570 – $91,020	280
26	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,990	$45,120 – $151,390	200
27	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,950	$46,160 – $109,970	2,000
28	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$68,640	$46,520 – $99,450	210
29	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,490	$52,560 – $93,310	190
30	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,170	$44,990 – $102,990	650
31	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,510	$48,540 – $94,090	720
32	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$65,220	$44,750 – $78,690	260
33	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,830	$48,550 – $94,880	360
34	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,510	$47,510 – $80,880	340
35	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,330	$41,080 – $70,550	170
36	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$64,250	$42,390 – $82,740	870
37	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,650	$42,600 – $75,030	180
38	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,350	$53,410 – $100,030	360
39	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,110	$51,780 – $100,980	320
40	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,900	$37,400 – $118,550	2,110
41	Gambling Change Persons and Booth CashiersNo formal educational credential	$62,500	$40,940 – $63,010	150
42	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,160	$38,190 – $97,700	1,330
43	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,120	$37,970 – $132,480	1,400
44	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,460	$38,130 – $77,140	180
45	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,410	$47,390 – $78,260	380
46	Continuous Mining Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$60,880	$49,700 – $74,450	720
47	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,370	$41,500 – $79,530	580
48	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,350	$41,610 – $97,240	1,250
49	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,480	$45,260 – $92,930	1,340
50	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,440	$42,340 – $84,660	3,500

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Tucson, AZ. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Tucson, AZ to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Tucson, AZ that need no degree

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