Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Tucson, AZ

Each occupation's median wage in Tucson, AZ 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 Tucson, AZ pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

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 · vs. national

1Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers$62,500
No formal educational credential
$40,940 – $63,010+72.6%
2Gambling Dealers$54,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,420 – $84,340+58.6%
3Physicians, All Other$357,070
Doctoral or professional degree
$139,580 – $424,280+34.3%
4Gambling Cage Workers$47,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,160 – $51,590+25.9%
5Production Workers, All Other$49,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,170 – $75,760+24.4%
6Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$124,250
Doctoral or professional degree
$35,920 – $172,640+23.5%
7Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$78,810
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,500 – $89,100+23.4%
8Parts Salespersons$47,100
No formal educational credential
$34,280 – $59,740+21.9%
9Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$59,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,250 – $90,840+21.6%
10Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$75,940
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,890 – $87,860+17.9%
11Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$119,630
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,330 – $139,960+15.7%
12Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$73,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,690 – $90,850+13.1%
13Skincare Specialists$51,030
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,670 – $70,310+12.6%
14Detectives and Criminal Investigators$105,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,500 – $147,640+12.3%
15Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$73,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,270 – $92,700+12.1%
16Butchers and Meat Cutters$44,970
No formal educational credential
$34,440 – $58,550+12.0%
17First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$61,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,130 – $77,140+9.9%
18Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$53,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,210 – $76,810+9.6%
19Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$38,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,580 – $61,620+7.8%
20Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$33,560
No formal educational credential
$30,580 – $43,720+7.6%
21Protective Service Workers, All Other$45,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,550 – $57,680+7.1%
22Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$35,860
No formal educational credential
$31,300 – $37,050+6.8%
23Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$45,810
Bachelor's degree
$30,900 – $58,520+6.8%
24Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$42,940
No formal educational credential
$34,800 – $58,300+6.7%
25Dentists, General$182,200
Doctoral or professional degree
$86,950 – $267,980+6.6%
26Bartenders$36,450
No formal educational credential
$30,580 – $81,590+6.1%
27Postal Service Mail Carriers$64,250
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $82,740+6.1%
28Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$78,190
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,570 – $102,040+5.5%
29Packers and Packagers, Hand$38,180
No formal educational credential
$30,640 – $45,750+5.2%
30Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$37,400
No formal educational credential
$31,160 – $46,280+4.9%
31Pharmacists$147,420
Doctoral or professional degree
$72,760 – $175,370+4.6%
32Animal Caretakers$36,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,560 – $63,280+4.3%
33Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$83,290
Associate's degree
$62,340 – $117,540+4.0%
34Architectural and Civil Drafters$68,640
Associate's degree
$46,520 – $99,450+3.8%
35Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$50,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,870 – $63,410+3.7%
36Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$68,490
Associate's degree
$52,560 – $93,310+3.6%
37Waiters and Waitresses$36,490
No formal educational credential
$30,580 – $73,520+3.6%
38Pharmacy Technicians$47,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,680 – $63,250+3.4%
39Library Assistants, Clerical$38,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,860 – $38,110+3.3%
40Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$61,250
Master's degree
$39,270 – $92,020+3.2%
41Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and Repairers$48,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,620 – $64,350+3.1%
42General Internal Medicine Physicians$264,320
Doctoral or professional degree
$64,110 – $351,790+3.0%
43Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$34,990
No formal educational credential
$30,580 – $51,050+3.0%
44Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$76,190
Associate's degree
$39,010 – $168,320+2.5%
45Postal Service Clerks$63,650
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030+2.4%
46Phlebotomists$46,200
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,380 – $63,330+2.1%
47Data Entry Keyers$42,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,030 – $53,760+1.9%
48Fast Food and Counter Workers$31,690
No formal educational credential
$30,600 – $42,130+1.6%
49Business Operations Specialists, All Other$84,360
Bachelor's degree
$54,510 – $126,550+1.6%
50Paramedics$61,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,390 – $78,260+1.3%

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	vs. national
1	Gambling Change Persons and Booth CashiersNo formal educational credential	$62,500	$40,940 – $63,010	+72.6%
2	Gambling DealersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,420	$54,420 – $84,340	+58.6%
3	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$357,070	$139,580 – $424,280	+34.3%
4	Gambling Cage WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,320	$32,160 – $51,590	+25.9%
5	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,890	$37,170 – $75,760	+24.4%
6	Clinical and Counseling PsychologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$124,250	$35,920 – $172,640	+23.5%
7	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,810	$36,500 – $89,100	+23.4%
8	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$47,100	$34,280 – $59,740	+21.9%
9	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,080	$39,250 – $90,840	+21.6%
10	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,940	$59,890 – $87,860	+17.9%
11	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$119,630	$63,330 – $139,960	+15.7%
12	Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,930	$58,690 – $90,850	+13.1%
13	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,030	$37,670 – $70,310	+12.6%
14	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,350	$60,500 – $147,640	+12.3%
15	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,410	$47,270 – $92,700	+12.1%
16	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$44,970	$34,440 – $58,550	+12.0%
17	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,460	$38,130 – $77,140	+9.9%
18	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,100	$38,210 – $76,810	+9.6%
19	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$38,590	$30,580 – $61,620	+7.8%
20	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$33,560	$30,580 – $43,720	+7.6%
21	Protective Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,550	$45,550 – $57,680	+7.1%
22	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$35,860	$31,300 – $37,050	+6.8%
23	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$45,810	$30,900 – $58,520	+6.8%
24	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$42,940	$34,800 – $58,300	+6.7%
25	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$182,200	$86,950 – $267,980	+6.6%
26	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$36,450	$30,580 – $81,590	+6.1%
27	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$64,250	$42,390 – $82,740	+6.1%
28	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,190	$62,570 – $102,040	+5.5%
29	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$38,180	$30,640 – $45,750	+5.2%
30	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and GreenhouseNo formal educational credential	$37,400	$31,160 – $46,280	+4.9%
31	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$147,420	$72,760 – $175,370	+4.6%
32	Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,870	$31,560 – $63,280	+4.3%
33	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$83,290	$62,340 – $117,540	+4.0%
34	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$68,640	$46,520 – $99,450	+3.8%
35	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,500	$39,870 – $63,410	+3.7%
36	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,490	$52,560 – $93,310	+3.6%
37	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$36,490	$30,580 – $73,520	+3.6%
38	Pharmacy TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,310	$37,680 – $63,250	+3.4%
39	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,110	$35,860 – $38,110	+3.3%
40	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$61,250	$39,270 – $92,020	+3.2%
41	Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,920	$31,620 – $64,350	+3.1%
42	General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$264,320	$64,110 – $351,790	+3.0%
43	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$34,990	$30,580 – $51,050	+3.0%
44	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,190	$39,010 – $168,320	+2.5%
45	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,650	$42,600 – $75,030	+2.4%
46	PhlebotomistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,200	$36,380 – $63,330	+2.1%
47	Data Entry KeyersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,140	$32,030 – $53,760	+1.9%
48	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$31,690	$30,600 – $42,130	+1.6%
49	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$84,360	$54,510 – $126,550	+1.6%
50	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,410	$47,390 – $78,260	+1.3%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Tucson, AZ

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