Phoenix, Tucson among the US cities with the most growth in high-paying jobs

PHOENIX — The number of high-paying jobs in Arizona’s two largest metropolitan areas has increased more than nearly anywhere else in the country over the past few years, according to a new report.

Real estate software company Stessa determined the cities with the largest growth in six-figure jobs from 2015 to 2020 using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics tables.

Out of large metros, the Phoenix area had the second-highest increase in the country (217.1%), trailing only Nashville, Tennessee (270.9%).

The report found metro Phoenix had a total employment of 180,740 in six-figure jobs in 2020, up from 57,000 in 2015, and representing 8.6% of total employment.

Metro Phoenix’s median annual wage across all occupations in 2020 was $41,300, according to the report.

Not far behind metro Phoenix was Tucson, which had the eighth-largest high-paying job growth among large metros.

Tucson’s total employment in six-figure jobs in 2020 was 13,730, up 156.2% from 5,360 in 2015, and representing 3.7% of the total employment.

The median annual wage across all occupations in 2020 for the southern Arizona city was $38,900.

Aided by Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona as a whole saw a percentage increase in six-figure jobs over the five years of 202.5%, good for third-best in the nation.

The median annual wage across all occupations for the state in 2020 was $40,260, with 5.9% of total employment making six figures last year.

Stessa said most of the high-paying jobs are for general and operations managers, followed by software developers, lawyers, financial managers and computer and information systems managers.

The company added that areas like Phoenix with lower costs, a strong labor supply and top universities can be a major draw for companies looking to expand.

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