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Arizona’s highest-paying occupations are dominated by healthcare, but the state’s broader economy also creates strong opportunities in aerospace, technology, engineering, and management. If you’re considering a career move or planning your next educational step, knowing which fields pay the most can help you make more informed choices.

In this guide, we’ve ranked the 30 highest-paying jobs in Arizona using official data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), released May 15, 2026 (May 2025 reference period). These roles represent full-time, long-term professions across medicine, management, technology, and engineering.

Related Reading: 25 Highest-Paying Trade Jobs in the U.S.

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What We Considered

This list includes jobs that meet the following criteria:

• Reported in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for Arizona
• Ranked by annual mean wage in the May 2025 BLS OEWS Arizona data
• Wage-and-salary occupations (OEWS does not include self-employed workers, owners or partners in unincorporated firms, household workers, or unpaid family workers)
• Broad “all other” categories are included when BLS reports a wage estimate; occupations with unavailable or suppressed annual mean wages are excluded

A note on this year’s data: Because of the lapse in federal appropriations from October 1 through November 12, 2025, additional collection and processing time were required for the May 2025 OEWS survey. BLS reported response rates remained within the normal range and no methodology changes were necessary.

Related Reading: 30 Highest-Paying Careers in California

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Top 30 Highest-Paying Jobs in Arizona (By Average Salary)

Below are Arizona’s top-earning careers, ranked by their average annual salary as reported in May 2025. “Mean wage” refers to the average income across all workers in an occupation; actual salaries vary depending on experience, location, and employer. For physician and surgeon specialties in Arizona, sample sizes are often small and wage estimates have wider margins of error than for larger occupations. Some high-paying specialties (including anesthesiologists, cardiologists, and emergency medicine physicians) are not shown because BLS did not publish Arizona-specific mean wage estimates for them in the May 2025 data.

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1. Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric

Average Salary (AZ): $542,140
Pathway: Medical degree; orthopedic surgery residency
What They Do: Diagnose and treat injuries and disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

BLS Handbook: Physicians and Surgeons

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2. Radiologists

Average Salary (AZ): $478,540
Pathway: Medical degree; radiology residency
What They Do: Use medical imaging to diagnose and treat diseases and injuries.

BLS Handbook: Physicians and Surgeons

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3. Surgeons, All Other

Average Salary (AZ): $403,010
Pathway: Medical degree; specialized surgical training
What They Do: Perform surgeries in specialized fields not otherwise categorized.

BLS Handbook: Physicians and Surgeons

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4. Neurologists

Average Salary (AZ): $358,190
Pathway: Medical degree; neurology residency
What They Do: Diagnose and treat disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system.

BLS Handbook: Physicians and Surgeons

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5. Dermatologists

Average Salary (AZ): $346,080
Pathway: Medical degree; dermatology residency
What They Do: Diagnose and treat diseases of the skin, hair, and nails.

BLS Handbook: Physicians and Surgeons

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6. Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Average Salary (AZ): $336,640
Pathway: Medical degree; OB/GYN residency
What They Do: Provide medical and surgical care related to pregnancy and reproductive health.

BLS Handbook: Physicians and Surgeons

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7. Family Medicine Physicians

Average Salary (AZ): $310,630
Pathway: Medical degree; family medicine residency
What They Do: Provide comprehensive primary care for individuals and families.

BLS Handbook: Physicians and Surgeons

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8. Physicians, Pathologists

Average Salary (AZ): $305,920
Pathway: Medical degree; pathology residency
What They Do: Analyze body tissues and fluids to diagnose diseases.

BLS Handbook: Physicians and Surgeons

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9. Physicians, All Other

Average Salary (AZ): $303,730
Pathway: Medical degree; medical specialty training
What They Do: Provide specialized medical care not classified elsewhere.

BLS Handbook: Physicians and Surgeons

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10. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Average Salary (AZ): $285,420
Pathway: Dental degree; oral and maxillofacial surgery residency
What They Do: Perform surgery on the mouth, jaw, face, head, and neck.

BLS Handbook: Dentists

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11. Dentists, All Other Specialists

Average Salary (AZ): $266,340
Pathway: Dental degree; specialty residency
What They Do: Provide advanced dental treatments in areas such as prosthodontics, endodontics, or periodontics.

BLS Handbook: Dentists

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12. Psychiatrists

Average Salary (AZ): $264,260
Pathway: Medical degree; psychiatry residency
What They Do: Diagnose and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.

BLS Handbook: Physicians and Surgeons

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13. Nurse Anesthetists

Average Salary (AZ): $256,610
Pathway: Master’s or Doctor of Nursing Practice; CRNA certification
What They Do: Administer anesthesia and monitor patients during surgery.

BLS Handbook: Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners

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14. Orthodontists

Average Salary (AZ): $242,650
Pathway: Dental degree; orthodontics residency
What They Do: Diagnose and treat dental and facial irregularities, often using braces or other corrective devices.

BLS Handbook: Dentists

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15. Pediatricians, General

Average Salary (AZ): $239,830
Pathway: Medical degree; pediatric residency
What They Do: Provide healthcare for infants, children, and adolescents.

BLS Handbook: Physicians and Surgeons

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16. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

Average Salary (AZ): $236,550
Pathway: Bachelor’s degree; FAA licensure and flight training
What They Do: Pilot and navigate aircraft while ensuring passenger safety.

BLS Handbook: Airline and Commercial Pilots

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17. General Internal Medicine Physicians

Average Salary (AZ): $230,970
Pathway: Medical degree; internal medicine residency
What They Do: Provide long-term, comprehensive care to adults.

BLS Handbook: Physicians and Surgeons

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18. Veterinarians

Average Salary (AZ): $187,410
Pathway: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM); state licensure
What They Do: Diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries in animals, and provide preventive care.

BLS Handbook: Veterinarians

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19. Dentists, General

Average Salary (AZ): $181,040
Pathway: Dental degree; state licensure
What They Do: Diagnose and treat problems with patients’ teeth and gums.

BLS Handbook: Dentists

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20. Architectural and Engineering Managers

Average Salary (AZ): $180,870
Pathway: Bachelor’s in engineering or architecture; management experience
What They Do: Coordinate and oversee engineering or architectural projects.

BLS Handbook: Architectural and Engineering Managers

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21. Computer and Information Systems Managers

Average Salary (AZ): $170,050
Pathway: Bachelor’s or master’s in IT or computer science
What They Do: Plan and direct computer-related activities and systems in organizations.

BLS Handbook: Computer and Information Systems Managers

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22. Economics Teachers, Postsecondary

Average Salary (AZ): $162,390
Pathway: Doctoral or professional degree in economics
What They Do: Teach economics courses at colleges and universities; may also conduct research.

BLS Handbook: Postsecondary Teachers

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23. Nurse Midwives

Average Salary (AZ): $159,910
Pathway: Master’s degree (MSN) or DNP; Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) credential
What They Do: Provide prenatal care, attend births, and deliver primary reproductive and gynecologic care.

BLS Handbook: Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners

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24. Physicists

Average Salary (AZ): $159,730
Pathway: PhD in physics or related field
What They Do: Conduct research and experiments to understand physical phenomena.

BLS Handbook: Physicists and Astronomers

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25. Sales Managers

Average Salary (AZ): $158,700
Pathway: Bachelor’s degree; sales and leadership experience
What They Do: Direct teams and strategies to achieve revenue goals.

BLS Handbook: Sales Managers

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26. Financial Managers

Average Salary (AZ): $158,550
Pathway: Bachelor’s in finance or accounting; leadership experience
What They Do: Oversee budgets, investments, and financial reporting.

BLS Handbook: Financial Managers

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27. Computer Hardware Engineers

Average Salary (AZ): $157,800
Pathway: Bachelor’s in computer engineering or related field
What They Do: Design, test, and improve computer hardware systems.

BLS Handbook: Computer Hardware Engineers

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28. Lawyers

Average Salary (AZ): $157,190
Pathway: Juris Doctor (JD); state bar exam
What They Do: Represent clients in legal proceedings and advise on legal matters.

BLS Handbook: Lawyers

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29. Computer and Information Research Scientists

Average Salary (AZ): $152,580
Pathway: Master’s or PhD in computer science
What They Do: Develop new computing technologies and solve complex data challenges.

BLS Handbook: Computer and Information Research Scientists

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30. Marketing Managers

Average Salary (AZ): $152,080
Pathway: Bachelor’s in marketing or communications
What They Do: Plan and execute campaigns to build brand awareness and drive sales.

BLS Handbook: Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers

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Salary Comparison Table

Occupation	Average Salary (AZ)
Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric	$542,140
Radiologists	$478,540
Surgeons, All Other	$403,010
Neurologists	$358,190
Dermatologists	$346,080
Obstetricians and Gynecologists	$336,640
Family Medicine Physicians	$310,630
Physicians, Pathologists	$305,920
Physicians, All Other	$303,730
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons	$285,420
Dentists, All Other Specialists	$266,340
Psychiatrists	$264,260
Nurse Anesthetists	$256,610
Orthodontists	$242,650
Pediatricians, General	$239,830
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers	$236,550
General Internal Medicine Physicians	$230,970
Veterinarians	$187,410
Dentists, General	$181,040
Architectural and Engineering Managers	$180,870
Computer and Information Systems Managers	$170,050
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary	$162,390
Nurse Midwives	$159,910
Physicists	$159,730
Sales Managers	$158,700
Financial Managers	$158,550
Computer Hardware Engineers	$157,800
Lawyers	$157,190
Computer and Information Research Scientists	$152,580
Marketing Managers	$152,080

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Final Thoughts

Arizona’s economy is growing fast and these highest-paying jobs in Arizona reflect where skill, education, and experience truly pay off. While healthcare continues to dominate, careers in management, technology, and engineering also offer lucrative paths for professionals who want long-term growth.

At Amtec, we’re committed to helping you take the next step in your career. Our job board may not include every role listed here, but it’s a great place to discover real opportunities that fit your skills and goals. Explore Jobs

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FAQs

What is the #1 highest-paying job in Arizona?

As of May 2025 BLS data, Orthopedic Surgeons top the list with an average annual salary of $542,140.

Do all high-paying jobs in Arizona require a doctorate?

No. While many medical careers do, several others, like IT managers, computer hardware engineers, and sales managers, offer six-figure salaries with a bachelor’s degree and experience.

Which fields show up most often among Arizona’s highest-paying jobs?

Healthcare dominates the top of the list, followed by management, technology, engineering, aviation, and legal roles.

Where can I explore the full wage database?

Visit the official BLS source: https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/area/0400000.