Top Paying Jobs in Tucson AZ: Salaries, Roles & Where to Apply in 2026
Published May 11, 2026 | TucsonHIRED Team
Tucson is often defined by its affordability, but the metro's wage ceiling is considerably higher than most job seekers realize. The same economy that produces defense contracts at Raytheon, research budgets at the University of Arizona, and multi-campus hospital systems at Banner and TMC also produces some of the most competitive salaries in the Southwest. Whether you're already established in your field or actively planning your next career move, these are the roles paying the most in Tucson right now. Search all Tucson jobs on TucsonHIRED.com and apply directly from your phone or desktop.
Note: Salary figures below are approximate, based on aggregated labor market data and current job postings. Individual compensation varies based on employer, experience, specialty, and credentials.
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Anesthesiologist
Estimated annual pay: in the range of $250,000 to $300,000+. Where: Banner-University Medical Center Tucson, TMC Health, and surgical centers across Pima County. Anesthesiologists in Tucson work alongside some of the region's top surgical teams, with demand consistent across both academic and community hospital settings. Banner's academic medical center on the U of A campus remains one of the most active recruiters for this specialty. Search anesthesiologist jobs in Tucson.
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Physician
Estimated annual pay: typically in the range of $220,000 to $280,000 depending on specialty. Where: Tucson Medical Center, Banner Health, Carondelet Health Network, El Rio Community Health. Primary care, internal medicine, and specialist physicians are all in demand across Tucson's hospital systems and growing outpatient networks. Carondelet Medical Group is actively recruiting board-certified and board-eligible physicians right now. Search physician jobs in Tucson.
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General Dentist / Associate Dentist
Estimated annual pay: in the range of $180,000 to $250,000. Where: Tucson Advanced Dentistry, Risas Dental and Braces, Premier Dental of Arizona, and private practices across the metro. Dentistry remains one of Tucson's best-compensated professions, with group practices offering production-based compensation models that reward productivity. Risas Dental and Braces, with multiple Tucson-area locations, is among the most active dental recruiters in the region. Search dentist jobs in Tucson.
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Principal / Senior Engineer
Estimated annual pay: in the range of $130,000 to $175,000. Where: Raytheon Missiles and Defense, Bombardier, Texas Instruments, Caterpillar, and defense contractors at and around Davis-Monthan AFB. Tucson's aerospace and defense sector is a steady pipeline for senior engineering talent, with Raytheon's campus at 3601 E. Britannia Drive consistently posting systems, mechanical, and software engineering roles. U.S. citizenship is required for most positions. Search principal engineer jobs or defense engineering openings.
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Nurse Practitioner (NP)
Estimated annual pay: in the range of $120,000 to $145,000. Where: Carondelet Health Network, Banner Health, El Rio Community Health, and specialty practices including dermatology, primary care, and urgent care across Tucson. Nurse practitioners with specialty experience — particularly in dermatology — are in active demand, with some Tucson dermatology practices posting NP positions with performance-based compensation models. Search nurse practitioner jobs in Tucson.
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Contracts Manager
Estimated annual pay: typically around $130,000 to $145,000. Where: Raytheon, defense contractors, and Tucson's growing technology sector. Contracts managers who can navigate federal acquisition regulations and defense procurement processes are highly valued in Tucson's defense-heavy economy. These roles rarely show up on public job boards for long. Search contracts manager jobs in Tucson.
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Pharmacist
Estimated annual pay: in the range of $120,000 to $135,000. Where: CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, Fry's Food and Drug, Banner Health system pharmacies, and specialty pharmacy operations at Tucson's hospital networks. Both retail and clinical pharmacy openings appear regularly across the metro, with hospital pharmacy roles at the higher end of the pay range. Search pharmacist jobs in Tucson.
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Physician Assistant (PA-C)
Estimated annual pay: in the range of $115,000 to $135,000. Where: TMC Health, Banner Health, Northwest Medical Center, Oro Valley Hospital, and urgent care networks across Pima County. Physician assistants working in surgical specialties and emergency medicine command premium rates in Tucson's competitive healthcare labor market. Search physician assistant jobs in Tucson.
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Data and Analytics Professional
Estimated annual pay: in the range of $70,000 to $95,000 depending on level and employer. Where: University of Arizona, Critical Path Institute (C-Path), IBM, Raytheon, and Tucson's growing bioscience and nonprofit research sector. Critical Path Institute, a Tucson-based nonprofit advancing clinical research, recently posted a Data and Analytics Platform Support Administrator role paying in the range of $69,100 to $93,000. Search data analyst jobs in Tucson.
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CDL-A Driver / Owner-Operator
Estimated annual pay: in the range of $60,000 to $120,000+ depending on route type, freight, and company structure. Where: Shamrock Foods, Amazon TUS2, FedEx, UPS, and regional carriers serving Southern Arizona. Shamrock Foods — which recently committed to 125 new jobs with a Tucson-area warehouse and distribution facility — is actively recruiting truck drivers and delivery drivers. CDL-A holders with hazmat and tanker endorsements consistently land at the top of the range. Search CDL driver jobs in Tucson.
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