Human Resources Jobs in Tucson, AZ
Human resources work in Tucson follows the big employers: the hospitals, the defense and space companies, the mining engineers and the base. Carondelet, TMC, World View and Rain Bird have all posted HR roles here. The guides below cover every HR role in Tucson, who is hiring and what it pays.
Why Human Resources Work Is Different in Tucson
Tucson's HR jobs are spread across health care, aerospace, manufacturing and government rather than one industry. On the health care side, Carondelet's St. Joseph's and St. Mary's hospitals post HR coordinator and HR manager roles, and Tucson Medical Center in midtown hires HR business partners. In aerospace and manufacturing, World View recruits for its Tucson balloon and launch teams, and Rain Bird has posted an HR manager and a senior technical trainer for its Tucson operation.
Two local details shape the work. Hospital HR here often means labor relations: Carondelet's St. Mary's HR manager posting asks for unionized-workplace experience and acts as the main contact for the union. And the public employers, from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base on the southeast side to the State of Arizona, hire through federal and state systems with their own rules, pay grades and background checks.
Top Human Resources Employers in Tucson
These Tucson employers have posted HR roles on their own careers sites:
- Carondelet Health Network - HR coordinators at St. Joseph's and an HR manager at St. Mary's who leads labor relations.
- Tucson Medical Center - HR business partners advising leaders on engagement, workforce planning and employee relations.
- World View - talent acquisition, onboarding and learning roles for its Tucson aerospace teams.
- Rain Bird - an HR manager supporting manufacturing and international sites, plus technical training roles.
- Ausenco - talent acquisition specialists recruiting engineers for mining and construction projects.
- Davis-Monthan AFB - the Air Force nonappropriated fund HR office hires HR assistants and specialists.
- Roche Tissue Diagnostics - names human resources among the job families at its Tucson-area headquarters.
Human Resources Career Paths in Tucson
- Getting started - HR Coordinator. The support role that handles records, transactions and onboarding, and the usual first job in the field.
- Generalist and business partner - Human Resources Generalist, HR Business Partner and HR Manager. The track that covers the whole employee lifecycle and leads to running an HR department.
- Hiring - Recruiter and Talent Acquisition Specialist. Sourcing and hiring, often for technical engineering, aerospace and health care roles here.
- Specialist tracks - Payroll Specialist, Benefits Administrator and Training and Development Specialist, plus the Human Resources overview guide for mapping the field.
How to Start a Human Resources Career in Tucson
- Education - preferred, not required by law. Many coordinator roles ask for a high school diploma plus HR support experience; generalist, partner and manager roles usually want a bachelor's degree.
- Pima Community College Human Resources Certificate - a fully online program that takes about one year full time.
- SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR or SPHR - voluntary national certifications from SHRM and HRCI that Tucson manager and partner postings list as preferred.
- Insurance producer license - required only for brokers who sell benefits coverage, issued by the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions.
Arizona has no license for in-house HR work, so degrees and certifications are employer preferences, while the producer license is the one legal requirement and applies only to selling insurance.
Human Resources Salaries in Tucson
- Entry - roughly $18 to $24 an hour for HR assistants and coordinators.
- Mid - roughly $52,000 to $72,000 a year for generalists, recruiters, benefits and training specialists.
- Senior - roughly $90,000 to $140,000 a year for HR managers, business partners and directors.
These are estimates that vary by employer and experience. Federal wage data put the average Tucson HR specialist at about $65,300 a year in 2023. Private aerospace pays at the top: World View posted a Tucson talent and learning specialist role at $150,000 to $180,000. Public employers such as Davis-Monthan pay on set federal scales and add federal benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a degree to work in HR in Tucson?
Not for every role. Carondelet's HR coordinator posting asks for a high school diploma or GED plus three years of HR support experience. Generalist, business partner and manager roles in Tucson usually ask for a bachelor's degree.
Is there a license for HR jobs in Arizona?
No. Arizona does not license in-house HR professionals. SHRM and HRCI certifications are voluntary, and the only related state license is the insurance producer license for brokers who sell benefits coverage.
Where can you study human resources in Tucson?
Pima Community College offers a Human Resources Certificate that is fully online and takes about a year full time. Many Tucson HR professionals add a SHRM or HRCI certification once they have experience.
Which Tucson employers hire HR staff?
Carondelet, Tucson Medical Center, World View, Rain Bird and Ausenco have all posted Tucson HR or recruiting roles on their own sites. Davis-Monthan Air Force Base hires through its nonappropriated fund HR office.
How much do HR jobs in Tucson pay?
Entry HR assistants and coordinators generally earn about $18 to $24 an hour, generalists and specialists about $52,000 to $72,000, and managers about $90,000 to $140,000. These are estimates that vary by employer and experience.
Ready to get started? Browse all current human resources job openings in Tucson, AZ on TucsonHIRED and apply today.