Jobs that actually got a raise in Arizona

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

Cost of living: prices in Arizona run 0.7% above the national average (2024), so a Arizona salary is worth about 0.99× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Arizona.

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

Find high paying jobs in Arizona

OccupationMedian, Arizona · Real change since 2019

1Gambling Dealers$60,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,070 – $91,000+111.3%+166.1% nominal
2Pediatricians, General$233,950
Doctoral or professional degree
$111,020 – $408,620+45.8%+83.6% nominal
3Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$227,870
Bachelor's degree
$96,380 – $344,080+43.1%+80.2% nominal
4Cooks, Short Order$46,630
No formal educational credential
$31,790 – $50,180+43.0%+80.0% nominal
5Physical Therapist Assistants$64,650
Associate's degree
$36,160 – $79,570+41.6%+78.3% nominal
6Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$73,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,690 – $85,970+34.0%+68.8% nominal
7Transportation Security Screeners$64,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,080 – $72,450+28.9%+62.3% nominal
8Butchers and Meat Cutters$45,780
No formal educational credential
$35,010 – $54,990+27.8%+60.9% nominal
9Food Batchmakers$40,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,190 – $58,370+27.8%+61.0% nominal
10Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$74,840
Bachelor's degree
$48,860 – $137,800+27.5%+60.5% nominal
11Parts Salespersons$46,020
No formal educational credential
$34,170 – $68,530+26.6%+59.5% nominal
12Financial Examiners$80,260
Bachelor's degree
$60,000 – $129,300+25.1%+57.6% nominal
13Crossing Guards and Flaggers$37,440
No formal educational credential
$30,580 – $45,760+23.5%+55.5% nominal
14Counter and Rental Clerks$43,920
No formal educational credential
$35,980 – $72,690+23.5%+55.5% nominal
15Urban and Regional Planners$102,400
Master's degree
$62,670 – $127,660+22.3%+54.1% nominal
16Real Estate Sales Agents$58,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,160 – $113,460+21.9%+53.5% nominal
17Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$44,290
No formal educational credential
$34,620 – $57,810+21.8%+53.4% nominal
18Driver/Sales Workers$38,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,580 – $55,420+21.6%+53.1% nominal
19Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,320 – $73,010+20.8%+52.1% nominal
20Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$45,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,930 – $59,330+20.8%+52.1% nominal
21Bartenders$45,070
No formal educational credential
$30,650 – $86,720+20.8%+52.2% nominal
22Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$65,300
Master's degree
$44,520 – $95,210+20.3%+51.5% nominal
23Tire Repairers and Changers$38,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,250 – $59,690+20.3%+51.4% nominal
24Chiropractors$100,260
Doctoral or professional degree
$58,470 – $120,130+19.8%+50.9% nominal
25Massage Therapists$62,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,800 – $90,780+19.7%+50.7% nominal
26Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$36,500
No formal educational credential
$30,950 – $55,580+18.9%+49.8% nominal
27Sewing Machine Operators$40,210
No formal educational credential
$34,690 – $47,310+18.7%+49.4% nominal
28Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$37,600
No formal educational credential
$33,140 – $51,360+18.4%+49.1% nominal
29Veterinarians$152,020
Doctoral or professional degree
$81,990 – $262,990+17.7%+48.2% nominal
30Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,340 – $61,240+17.1%+47.5% nominal
31Packers and Packagers, Hand$37,060
No formal educational credential
$30,580 – $47,950+17.1%+47.4% nominal
32Animal Caretakers$38,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,320 – $68,090+17.0%+47.4% nominal
33Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$36,500
No formal educational credential
$32,690 – $38,530+16.5%+46.7% nominal
34Food Preparation Workers$36,750
No formal educational credential
$31,300 – $44,640+16.4%+46.5% nominal
35Home Health and Personal Care Aides$36,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,990 – $40,660+15.7%+45.7% nominal
36Credit Analysts$77,020
Bachelor's degree
$55,890 – $125,980+14.9%+44.7% nominal
37Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$35,900
Some college, no degree
$30,960 – $42,590+14.8%+44.5% nominal
38Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$35,380
No formal educational credential
$30,580 – $40,150+14.4%+44.1% nominal
39Rehabilitation Counselors$48,330
Master's degree
$37,130 – $60,670+14.3%+43.9% nominal
40Orderlies$37,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,350 – $46,360+14.3%+44.0% nominal
41Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$35,640
No formal educational credential
$31,350 – $42,690+14.2%+43.8% nominal
42Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$47,040
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,370 – $55,300+14.1%+43.7% nominal
43Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$76,700
Doctoral or professional degree
$38,360 – $102,230+14.1%+43.7% nominal
44Industrial Machinery Mechanics$74,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,240 – $100,810+13.8%+43.3% nominal
45Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$35,410
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $46,710+13.7%+43.1% nominal
46Waiters and Waitresses$43,950
No formal educational credential
$30,580 – $78,920+13.6%+43.1% nominal
47Dishwashers$35,130
No formal educational credential
$31,470 – $39,430+13.2%+42.5% nominal
48Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$39,660
No formal educational credential
$34,490 – $48,370+13.0%+42.4% nominal
49Retail Salespersons$35,720
No formal educational credential
$30,820 – $47,220+12.8%+42.1% nominal
50Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$77,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,050 – $89,850+12.7%+41.9% nominal

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

#	Occupation	MedianArizona	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Real change since 2019
1	Gambling DealersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,940	$38,070 – $91,000	+111.3%+166.1% nominal
2	Pediatricians, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$233,950	$111,020 – $408,620	+45.8%+83.6% nominal
3	Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersBachelor's degree	$227,870	$96,380 – $344,080	+43.1%+80.2% nominal
4	Cooks, Short OrderNo formal educational credential	$46,630	$31,790 – $50,180	+43.0%+80.0% nominal
5	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,650	$36,160 – $79,570	+41.6%+78.3% nominal
6	Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,930	$58,690 – $85,970	+34.0%+68.8% nominal
7	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,330	$41,080 – $72,450	+28.9%+62.3% nominal
8	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$45,780	$35,010 – $54,990	+27.8%+60.9% nominal
9	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,550	$32,190 – $58,370	+27.8%+61.0% nominal
10	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree	$74,840	$48,860 – $137,800	+27.5%+60.5% nominal
11	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$46,020	$34,170 – $68,530	+26.6%+59.5% nominal
12	Financial ExaminersBachelor's degree	$80,260	$60,000 – $129,300	+25.1%+57.6% nominal
13	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$37,440	$30,580 – $45,760	+23.5%+55.5% nominal
14	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$43,920	$35,980 – $72,690	+23.5%+55.5% nominal
15	Urban and Regional PlannersMaster's degree	$102,400	$62,670 – $127,660	+22.3%+54.1% nominal
16	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,780	$35,160 – $113,460	+21.9%+53.5% nominal
17	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$44,290	$34,620 – $57,810	+21.8%+53.4% nominal
18	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,440	$30,580 – $55,420	+21.6%+53.1% nominal
19	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,280	$38,320 – $73,010	+20.8%+52.1% nominal
20	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,080	$36,930 – $59,330	+20.8%+52.1% nominal
21	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$45,070	$30,650 – $86,720	+20.8%+52.2% nominal
22	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$65,300	$44,520 – $95,210	+20.3%+51.5% nominal
23	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,300	$35,250 – $59,690	+20.3%+51.4% nominal
24	ChiropractorsDoctoral or professional degree	$100,260	$58,470 – $120,130	+19.8%+50.9% nominal
25	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,400	$37,800 – $90,780	+19.7%+50.7% nominal
26	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$36,500	$30,950 – $55,580	+18.9%+49.8% nominal
27	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$40,210	$34,690 – $47,310	+18.7%+49.4% nominal
28	Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$37,600	$33,140 – $51,360	+18.4%+49.1% nominal
29	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$152,020	$81,990 – $262,990	+17.7%+48.2% nominal
30	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,930	$33,340 – $61,240	+17.1%+47.5% nominal
31	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$37,060	$30,580 – $47,950	+17.1%+47.4% nominal
32	Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,180	$33,320 – $68,090	+17.0%+47.4% nominal
33	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$36,500	$32,690 – $38,530	+16.5%+46.7% nominal
34	Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential	$36,750	$31,300 – $44,640	+16.4%+46.5% nominal
35	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,420	$30,990 – $40,660	+15.7%+45.7% nominal
36	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$77,020	$55,890 – $125,980	+14.9%+44.7% nominal
37	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$35,900	$30,960 – $42,590	+14.8%+44.5% nominal
38	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$35,380	$30,580 – $40,150	+14.4%+44.1% nominal
39	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$48,330	$37,130 – $60,670	+14.3%+43.9% nominal
40	OrderliesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,380	$34,350 – $46,360	+14.3%+44.0% nominal
41	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$35,640	$31,350 – $42,690	+14.2%+43.8% nominal
42	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,040	$38,370 – $55,300	+14.1%+43.7% nominal
43	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$76,700	$38,360 – $102,230	+14.1%+43.7% nominal
44	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,790	$51,240 – $100,810	+13.8%+43.3% nominal
45	Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentNo formal educational credential	$35,410	$31,200 – $46,710	+13.7%+43.1% nominal
46	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$43,950	$30,580 – $78,920	+13.6%+43.1% nominal
47	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$35,130	$31,470 – $39,430	+13.2%+42.5% nominal
48	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$39,660	$34,490 – $48,370	+13.0%+42.4% nominal
49	Retail SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$35,720	$30,820 – $47,220	+12.8%+42.1% nominal
50	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,070	$61,050 – $89,850	+12.7%+41.9% nominal

More for Arizona

Metro areas in Arizona

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Arizona

Without a degree

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

Jobs that actually got a raise in Arizona

More for Arizona

Metro areas in Arizona

By field in Arizona

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state