ocity
💰 COL Index: 94 — Below Avg Cost

Salaries in Tucson, AZ

Modeled occupation planning estimates with gross-pay and cost-context formulas.

Model generated 2026-02-25 · Methodology reviewed July 16, 2026 · 40 selected occupations

Selected-Role Model Average
$68,574
unweighted modeled medians; not a worker average
Purchasing-Power Model
$72,719
model average ÷ 94.3 × 100
Highest Modeled Role
Marketing Manager
$154,924
City 1BR Rent Reference
$1,018
monthly context; not a current quote

What does the salary model mean for Tucson?

$68,574 is the unweighted arithmetic average of the modeled medians for these 40 selected occupations. It is not an official mean or median for all local workers.

Model average$68,574/year
Gross monthly equivalent$5,715/month
Household income context$55,708

Keep the measures separate: gross monthly salary is before taxes and deductions; household income can include multiple earners; the selected-role model average is not weighted by local employment.

🏆 Highest Modeled Values in This 40-Role Set

Ranked by modeled annual occupation median. These are planning estimates, not direct local OEWS rows.

🥇 -2% vs national

Marketing Manager

$154,924
💡 Purchasing-power model $164,288
⏱ Hourly modeled equivalent $74.48/hr
National projected growth +8.0%
Career Guide → Best Cities →
🥈 -2% vs national

Pharmacist

$133,703
💡 Purchasing-power model $141,785
⏱ Hourly modeled equivalent $64.28/hr
National projected growth -3.0%
Career Guide → Best Cities →
🥉 -2% vs national

Software Developer

$125,083
💡 Purchasing-power model $132,644
⏱ Hourly modeled equivalent $60.14/hr
National projected growth +17.0%
Career Guide → Best Cities →
4️⃣ -2% vs national

Construction Manager

$106,359
💡 Purchasing-power model $112,788
⏱ Hourly modeled equivalent $51.13/hr
National projected growth +8.0%
Career Guide → Best Cities →
5️⃣ -2% vs national

Project Manager

$99,548
💡 Purchasing-power model $105,565
⏱ Hourly modeled equivalent $47.86/hr
National projected growth +6.0%
Career Guide → Best Cities →

📋 Complete Salary Guide — All 40 Occupations in Tucson

Purchasing-power equivalent = modeled annual median divided by the planning cost index (94.3/100). It does not estimate taxes or take-home pay. This city cost reference is below 100.

Showing all 40 occupations.

#
1 Marketing Manager $154,924
2 Pharmacist $133,703
3 Software Developer $125,083
4 Construction Manager $106,359
5 Project Manager $99,548
6 Physical Therapist $98,004
7 Financial Analyst $97,316
8 Web Developer $91,163
9 Dental Hygienist $86,033
10 Accountant $84,608
11 Registered Nurse $84,598
12 Data Analyst $81,934
13 Insurance Agent $78,573
14 Loan Officer $74,896
15 Police Officer $73,629
16 Human Resources Specialist $66,493
17 Elementary School Teacher $62,581
18 Plumber $62,266
19 Paralegal $61,676
20 Electrician $60,497
21 Real Estate Agent $60,428
22 Graphic Designer $60,291
23 Social Worker $59,819
24 Chef/Head Cook $59,318
25 Firefighter $56,143
26 Carpenter $55,946
27 HVAC Technician $54,718
28 Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) $53,685
29 Heavy Truck Driver $52,182
30 Welder $48,742
31 Auto Mechanic $47,493
32 Personal Trainer $45,881
33 Dental Assistant $44,053
34 Veterinary Technician $42,009
35 Pharmacy Technician $39,610
36 Cosmetologist $37,713
37 Medical Assistant $37,615
38 Security Guard $35,522
39 Nursing Assistant (CNA) $35,148
40 Nail Technician $32,779

OCity planning estimates. National occupation references are inputs; displayed city values are modeled rather than direct local BLS occupation rows.

Tucson salary model: formulas, sources and limitations

Stored occupation model comparison

modeled estimate ÷ stored national reference = row comparison

On this owner, estimate-to-reference ratios are approximately 0.983×. Ratios can vary by occupation, so this is not described as one citywide multiplier or a direct local OEWS download.

Purchasing-power equivalent

modeled estimate ÷ 94.3 × 100

This comparison does not estimate taxes or take-home pay and is not an official BLS adjustment.

Limitations. “Average” is unweighted across selected occupations. Growth fields are national occupation projections, not local forecasts. City and metro geographies can differ. Repeated stored employment counts are not presented as local jobs.
BLS OEWS methodologyBLS national projectionsCensus/ACS income context

Model generated 2026-02-25; methodology reviewed July 16, 2026.

🏙️ Living Costs in Tucson

🏠
1BR Rent
$1,018/mo
🏡
2BR Rent
$1,337/mo
🏘️
Median Home
$320,000
📉
Unemployment
3.8%
💳
Median Income
$55,708
🎓
College Educated
31%
🚶
Walk Score
65/100
📊
Cost of Living
94
Below Avg Cost
📊 Full Cost of Living Breakdown → 🏠 Real Estate Market →

🧮 Test Your Tucson Budget

Use scenario tools to compare gross pay and city cost context. Results depend on the inputs and do not guarantee take-home pay, housing approval or affordability.

💰 Decode a Job Offer 🔄 Salary Equivalence Calculator 🔍 Career Arbitrage Tool

❓ Tucson Salary FAQ

What does the average salary in Tucson mean on this page?

▼
$68,574 is the unweighted arithmetic average of the modeled medians for 40 selected occupations. It is not an official mean or median for all Tucson workers.

What is the monthly salary estimate in Tucson?

▼
The selected-occupation model average equals about $5,715 per month before taxes and deductions. This gross arithmetic conversion is not take-home pay or household income.

What is a good salary in Tucson?

▼
There is no universal threshold. Household size, current housing quotes, taxes, debt, benefits, transportation and other recurring costs determine fit. The figures here are planning references, not affordability guarantees.

Are these direct local BLS salary observations for Tucson?

▼
No. Each stored city planning estimate is compared with its stored national occupation reference. The estimate-to-reference relationship is approximately 0.983×; it is not represented as one universal city multiplier or a direct local BLS observation.

📝 Planning Takeaways for Tucson

Use the occupation rows to compare modeled gross-pay references, not to predict an offer. Validate the exact role, experience level, employer, benefits and location. Then model taxes and current household costs before making a relocation or career decision.

Career Decisions

Make your salary work in Tucson

City analysis

10 Best Affordable Cities for Artists and Creatives (2026)

Where creative careers actually pay the rent — without the NYC or LA price tag

City analysis

US Digital Nomad City Screen: Costs Before Connectivity Claims

Ten original city records with an address-level remote-work verification checklist.

City analysis

Remote Salary Arbitrage: Employer Approval and Household Math

A compensation and residency framework—not a promise that big-city pay follows the worker.

Career Guides →Cost of Living →Housing Market →Neighborhood Guide →

Explore Tucson Further

🏙️ Tucson City Overview 💰 Cost of Living 🏠 Real Estate 📊 Browse Salaries by City 💼 All Career Guides 🏘️ Neighborhood Guide 🔍 Career Arbitrage