Overview of Tucson
Tucson, AZ, the seat of Pima County, is home to art, education, technology, and a host of prominent industries. Tucson's geographic location in the Sonoran Desert provides a temperate climate nearly year round. According to estimates provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, Tucson had a population of over 548,000 in 2019. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the average hourly wage for those working in Tucson was $23.61 as of May 2019.
Top Employers
Organizations in both the private and public sectors appear on the list of top employers in Tucson. As reported in 2018 by the Phoenix Relocation Guide, the following were the 10 largest employers in the Tucson area:
- University of Arizona
- Raytheon Missile Systems
- Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
- State of Arizona
- Wal-Mart Stores
- Tucson Unified School District
- U.S. Border Patrol
- University of Arizona Health Network
- Pima County
- Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc.
Fastest-Growing Industries
Employment was expected to increase by 1.6% from 2016-2026, according to the Arizona Department of Administration (ADA). The ADA reports the following are expected to be the fastest-growing industries in the Tucson Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA):
- Construction
- Health care and social assistance
- Information technology
- Professional and technical services
- Finance and insurance
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing
- Administrative and waste services
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Fastest-Growing Occupations
Demand for construction trades and computer science specialties should be high in the Tucson, AZ, area through 2026. The ADA reports that the following are projected to be among the fastest-growing occupations in the Tucson MSA from 2016-2026:
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons
- Solar Photovoltaic Installers
- Interpreters and Translators
- Biomedical Engineers
- Operations Research Analysts
- Roofers
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
- Web Developers
- Electricians
- Construction Trade Helpers and Construction Laborers
