Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Arizona

Each occupation's median wage in Arizona compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Arizona pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

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 · vs. national

1Gambling Dealers$60,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,070 – $91,000+77.6%
2Semiconductor Processing Technicians$78,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,410 – $102,180+53.5%
3Bartenders$45,070
No formal educational credential
$30,650 – $86,720+31.2%
4Cooks, Short Order$46,630
No formal educational credential
$31,790 – $50,180+30.0%
5Chiropractors$100,260
Doctoral or professional degree
$58,470 – $120,130+26.6%
6Waiters and Waitresses$43,950
No formal educational credential
$30,580 – $78,920+24.8%
7Family Medicine Physicians$292,760
Doctoral or professional degree
$149,390 – $428,490+19.9%
8Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$77,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,050 – $89,850+19.7%
9Parts Salespersons$46,020
No formal educational credential
$34,170 – $68,530+19.1%
10Physicians, All Other$312,490
Doctoral or professional degree
$75,610 – $518,640+17.5%
11Veterinarians$152,020
Doctoral or professional degree
$81,990 – $262,990+16.8%
12Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$49,810
Bachelor's degree
$30,900 – $74,830+16.1%
13Industrial Machinery Mechanics$74,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,240 – $100,810+15.9%
14Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$45,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,390 – $62,810+15.0%
15Urban and Regional Planners$102,400
Master's degree
$62,670 – $127,660+14.6%
16Butchers and Meat Cutters$45,780
No formal educational credential
$35,010 – $54,990+14.1%
17Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$72,710
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,580 – $93,720+13.8%
18Dentists, General$194,180
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,230 – $336,320+13.6%
19Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$73,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,690 – $85,970+13.1%
20Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$116,820
Doctoral or professional degree
$70,430 – $154,550+13.0%
21Coaches and Scouts$53,130
Bachelor's degree
$36,880 – $99,850+12.3%
22Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$56,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,830 – $103,410+12.1%
23Database Architects$156,100
Bachelor's degree
$99,730 – $189,190+11.9%
24Surgical Technologists$72,260
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,030 – $96,840+11.8%
25Pediatricians, General$233,950
Doctoral or professional degree
$111,020 – $408,620+11.4%
26Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$89,200
Associate's degree
$61,510 – $123,410+11.3%
27Real Estate Sales Agents$58,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,160 – $113,460+11.3%
28Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$34,740
No formal educational credential
$30,710 – $46,850+11.3%
29Skincare Specialists$50,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,650 – $103,950+11.3%
30Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$44,290
No formal educational credential
$34,620 – $57,810+10.1%
31Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$65,300
Master's degree
$44,520 – $95,210+10.0%
32Fast Food and Counter Workers$34,230
No formal educational credential
$30,760 – $43,990+9.7%
33Sewing Machine Operators$40,210
No formal educational credential
$34,690 – $47,310+9.7%
34Detectives and Criminal Investigators$102,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,590 – $142,380+9.1%
35Animal Caretakers$38,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,320 – $68,090+8.0%
36Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$36,500
No formal educational credential
$30,950 – $55,580+7.4%
37Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$52,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,210 – $77,720+7.3%
38Massage Therapists$62,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,800 – $90,780+6.8%
39Public Safety Telecommunicators$56,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,950 – $77,890+6.7%
40First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$59,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,360 – $79,440+6.6%
41Telemarketers$37,750
No formal educational credential
$30,580 – $51,490+6.5%
42Counter and Rental Clerks$43,920
No formal educational credential
$35,980 – $72,690+6.3%
43Nursing Assistants$44,780
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,100 – $57,820+6.0%
44Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$39,660
No formal educational credential
$34,490 – $48,370+5.9%
45Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,340 – $61,240+5.8%
46Industrial Engineers$108,280
Bachelor's degree
$77,950 – $170,800+5.7%
47Cooks, Fast Food$32,660
No formal educational credential
$30,580 – $36,440+5.7%
48Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$35,380
No formal educational credential
$30,580 – $40,150+5.4%
49Tellers$45,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,620 – $54,350+5.2%
50Cashiers$34,600
No formal educational credential
$31,020 – $39,500+5.2%

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	vs. national
1	Gambling DealersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,940	$38,070 – $91,000	+77.6%
2	Semiconductor Processing TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,940	$38,410 – $102,180	+53.5%
3	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$45,070	$30,650 – $86,720	+31.2%
4	Cooks, Short OrderNo formal educational credential	$46,630	$31,790 – $50,180	+30.0%
5	ChiropractorsDoctoral or professional degree	$100,260	$58,470 – $120,130	+26.6%
6	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$43,950	$30,580 – $78,920	+24.8%
7	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$292,760	$149,390 – $428,490	+19.9%
8	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,070	$61,050 – $89,850	+19.7%
9	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$46,020	$34,170 – $68,530	+19.1%
10	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$312,490	$75,610 – $518,640	+17.5%
11	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$152,020	$81,990 – $262,990	+16.8%
12	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$49,810	$30,900 – $74,830	+16.1%
13	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,790	$51,240 – $100,810	+15.9%
14	Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,560	$35,390 – $62,810	+15.0%
15	Urban and Regional PlannersMaster's degree	$102,400	$62,670 – $127,660	+14.6%
16	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$45,780	$35,010 – $54,990	+14.1%
17	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,710	$38,580 – $93,720	+13.8%
18	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$194,180	$62,230 – $336,320	+13.6%
19	Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,930	$58,690 – $85,970	+13.1%
20	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$116,820	$70,430 – $154,550	+13.0%
21	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$53,130	$36,880 – $99,850	+12.3%
22	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,370	$38,830 – $103,410	+12.1%
23	Database ArchitectsBachelor's degree	$156,100	$99,730 – $189,190	+11.9%
24	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,260	$50,030 – $96,840	+11.8%
25	Pediatricians, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$233,950	$111,020 – $408,620	+11.4%
26	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$89,200	$61,510 – $123,410	+11.3%
27	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,780	$35,160 – $113,460	+11.3%
28	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$34,740	$30,710 – $46,850	+11.3%
29	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,470	$38,650 – $103,950	+11.3%
30	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$44,290	$34,620 – $57,810	+10.1%
31	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$65,300	$44,520 – $95,210	+10.0%
32	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$34,230	$30,760 – $43,990	+9.7%
33	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$40,210	$34,690 – $47,310	+9.7%
34	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,340	$60,590 – $142,380	+9.1%
35	Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,180	$33,320 – $68,090	+8.0%
36	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$36,500	$30,950 – $55,580	+7.4%
37	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,100	$39,210 – $77,720	+7.3%
38	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,400	$37,800 – $90,780	+6.8%
39	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,600	$46,950 – $77,890	+6.7%
40	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,650	$39,360 – $79,440	+6.6%
41	TelemarketersNo formal educational credential	$37,750	$30,580 – $51,490	+6.5%
42	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$43,920	$35,980 – $72,690	+6.3%
43	Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$44,780	$37,100 – $57,820	+6.0%
44	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$39,660	$34,490 – $48,370	+5.9%
45	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,930	$33,340 – $61,240	+5.8%
46	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$108,280	$77,950 – $170,800	+5.7%
47	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$32,660	$30,580 – $36,440	+5.7%
48	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$35,380	$30,580 – $40,150	+5.4%
49	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,250	$37,620 – $54,350	+5.2%
50	CashiersNo formal educational credential	$34,600	$31,020 – $39,500	+5.2%

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 pay the biggest premium in Arizona

More for Arizona

Metro areas in Arizona

By field in Arizona

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state