High paying jobs in Tucson, AZ that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Tucson, AZ, requires no bachelor's degree, and requires no prior experience in a related job. That second filter is what separates this from the no-degree list, which is topped by supervisor roles asking five years in the trade before they will look at you. Several of these do involve months of training — but the employer provides it, and pays you during it, which is a feature rather than a barrier. 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
2Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$96,910
Associate's degree
$77,000 – $117,060230
3Dental Hygienists$96,740
Associate's degree
$85,980 – $102,760490
4Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$83,290
Associate's degree
$62,340 – $117,540520
5Avionics Technicians$80,620
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,980 – $97,720240
6Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$80,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,760 – $113,810180
7Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$78,810
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,500 – $89,100220
8Respiratory Therapists$78,320
Associate's degree
$60,440 – $93,390540
9Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$78,190
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,570 – $102,040150
10Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$76,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,990 – $100,5101,600
11Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$76,190
Associate's degree
$39,010 – $168,320260
12Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$75,940
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,890 – $87,8601,150
13Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$75,460
Associate's degree
$59,190 – $94,640560
14Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians$75,230
Associate's degree
$61,530 – $94,390210
15Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$73,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,690 – $90,850580
16Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$73,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,270 – $92,700860
17Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$73,340
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,690 – $91,7301,390
18Occupational Therapy Assistants$71,480
Associate's degree
$50,010 – $80,200160
19Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$69,730
Associate's degree
$49,570 – $91,020280
20Architectural and Civil Drafters$68,640
Associate's degree
$46,520 – $99,450210
21Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$68,490
Associate's degree
$52,560 – $93,310190
22Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$66,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,990 – $102,990650
23Physical Therapist Assistants$65,220
Associate's degree
$44,750 – $78,690260
24Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,550 – $94,880360
25Surgical Technologists$64,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,510 – $80,880340
26Transportation Security Screeners$64,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,080 – $70,550170
27Postal Service Mail Carriers$64,250
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $82,740870
28Postal Service Clerks$63,650
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030180
29Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$62,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,400 – $118,5502,110
30Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers$62,500
No formal educational credential
$40,940 – $63,010150
31Insurance Sales Agents$62,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,190 – $97,7001,330
32Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$62,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,970 – $132,4801,400
33Continuous Mining Machine Operators$60,880
No formal educational credential
$49,700 – $74,450720
34Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$60,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,500 – $79,530580
35Electricians$59,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,260 – $92,9301,340
36Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$59,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,250 – $90,8401,340
37Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$59,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,840 – $74,2501,170
38Massage Therapists$58,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,960 – $78,820340
39Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$58,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,430 – $83,4501,320
40Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$58,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,020 – $72,710260
41Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$58,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,160 – $75,2501,130
42Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$57,870
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030210
43Computer User Support Specialists$57,660
Some college, no degree
$40,260 – $81,1402,090
44Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$57,500
No formal educational credential
$45,690 – $70,540590
45Advertising Sales Agents$56,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,160 – $102,700130
46Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$56,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,300 – $72,9603,820
47Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$56,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,050 – $75,8601,380
48Machinists$55,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,220 – $74,280590
49Correctional Officers and Jailers$54,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,620 – $71,4102,090
50Structural Iron and Steel Workers$54,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,320 – $73,470230

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	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$96,910	$77,000 – $117,060	230
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$96,740	$85,980 – $102,760	490
4	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$83,290	$62,340 – $117,540	520
5	Avionics TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,620	$62,980 – $97,720	240
6	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,530	$48,760 – $113,810	180
7	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,810	$36,500 – $89,100	220
8	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$78,320	$60,440 – $93,390	540
9	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,190	$62,570 – $102,040	150
10	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,970	$57,990 – $100,510	1,600
11	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,190	$39,010 – $168,320	260
12	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,940	$59,890 – $87,860	1,150
13	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,460	$59,190 – $94,640	560
14	Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,230	$61,530 – $94,390	210
15	Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,930	$58,690 – $90,850	580
16	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,410	$47,270 – $92,700	860
17	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,340	$51,690 – $91,730	1,390
18	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$71,480	$50,010 – $80,200	160
19	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$69,730	$49,570 – $91,020	280
20	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$68,640	$46,520 – $99,450	210
21	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,490	$52,560 – $93,310	190
22	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,170	$44,990 – $102,990	650
23	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$65,220	$44,750 – $78,690	260
24	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,830	$48,550 – $94,880	360
25	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,510	$47,510 – $80,880	340
26	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,330	$41,080 – $70,550	170
27	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$64,250	$42,390 – $82,740	870
28	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,650	$42,600 – $75,030	180
29	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,900	$37,400 – $118,550	2,110
30	Gambling Change Persons and Booth CashiersNo formal educational credential	$62,500	$40,940 – $63,010	150
31	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,160	$38,190 – $97,700	1,330
32	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,120	$37,970 – $132,480	1,400
33	Continuous Mining Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$60,880	$49,700 – $74,450	720
34	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,370	$41,500 – $79,530	580
35	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,480	$45,260 – $92,930	1,340
36	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,080	$39,250 – $90,840	1,340
37	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,070	$43,840 – $74,250	1,170
38	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,610	$46,960 – $78,820	340
39	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,580	$42,430 – $83,450	1,320
40	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,390	$42,020 – $72,710	260
41	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,100	$45,160 – $75,250	1,130
42	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$57,870	$42,600 – $75,030	210
43	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$57,660	$40,260 – $81,140	2,090
44	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$57,500	$45,690 – $70,540	590
45	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,870	$34,160 – $102,700	130
46	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,640	$39,300 – $72,960	3,820
47	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,070	$36,050 – $75,860	1,380
48	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,700	$38,220 – $74,280	590
49	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,970	$45,620 – $71,410	2,090
50	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,770	$45,320 – $73,470	230

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 experience

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