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Mechanical Engineer Salary in Arizona

Arizona pays mechanical engineers a mean of $105,440 per year, 20th in the nation. The state employs 6,700 mechanical engineers, with the Phoenix semiconductor cluster (Intel, TSMC, Microchip) and Tucson Raytheon Missiles as the two dominant anchors. COL-adjusted pay produces above-national real purchasing power.

Data as of May 2026, sourced from BLS OES May 2024 (SOC 17-2141).

AZ Mean Wage

$105,440

vs national $101,560 (+3.8%)

AZ Employment

6,700

78% in Phoenix metro

COL-Adjusted

$104,396

AZ COL 101 vs national 100

The semiconductor capital of the Mountain West

The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics tables for SOC 17-2141, May 2024 release, report an Arizona annual mean wage of $105,440 for 6,700 employed engineers. The state ranks 20th nationally, 3.8 percent above the national mean of $101,560.

Arizona's ME labor market has been reshaped over the last decade by federal CHIPS Act-driven semiconductor investment. The Phoenix metro now hosts Intel's massive Ocotillo and Chandler fabs (over 10,000 employees total), the new TSMC Arizona facility (the largest single foreign-direct-investment manufacturing project in US history), Microchip Technology, plus the long tail of semiconductor-equipment suppliers (Applied Materials, KLA, LAM Research field operations). Tucson is a different story: Raytheon Missiles and Defense employs roughly 13,000 people across multiple sites and is the largest single-site missile manufacturing complex in the world. The two clusters operate on different pay rhythms (semiconductor on commercial cycles, defense on multi-year DOD contracts).

Metro-by-metro pay

Metro	Mean Wage	MEs Employed	Driver Employers
Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler	$108,600	5,200	Intel Ocotillo and Chandler fabs, TSMC Arizona (new), Microchip Technology, Honeywell Aerospace Phoenix, plus Raytheon Goodyear.
Tucson	$100,400	1,100	Raytheon Missiles and Defense (the largest single-site missile manufacturing complex in the world), Caterpillar Tucson, plus University of Arizona research.
Flagstaff	$92,800	180	Nestle Purina, W.L. Gore manufacturing, plus NAU mechanical engineering research.
Prescott	$89,200	110	Sturm Ruger, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University research, smaller manufacturing base.

The cost-of-living math, honestly

Arizona housing costs sit close to the national average, with Phoenix slightly above and Tucson slightly below. Using Regional Price Parities published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the state runs around 101.

Metro	Nominal Pay	COL Index	Adjusted
Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler	$108,600	104	$104,423
Tucson	$100,400	96	$104,583
Flagstaff	$92,800	107	$86,729
Prescott	$89,200	100	$89,200
Arizona state average	$105,440	101	$104,396

PE licensing in Arizona

The Arizona Board of Technical Registration administers PE licensure under Arizona Revised Statutes Title 32 Chapter 1. The path is ABET-accredited BS, FE exam, four years of qualifying experience under a licensed PE, then the PE exam. Arizona's application fee is $150, biennial renewal is $150, and the NCEES PE exam fee runs around $375. PE licensure is essentially mandatory for the Phoenix consulting market (AECOM, Stantec, Burns and McDonnell) and ADOT. In semiconductor fabs, aerospace, and Raytheon defense work, PE licensure adds no compensation premium.

Frequently asked questions

How much do mechanical engineers make in Arizona?+

Arizona mechanical engineers earn a mean of $105,440 per year and a median hourly wage of $50.69, per BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for May 2024. The state employs 6,700 mechanical engineers, with semiconductor and defense as the dominant industries.

Which Arizona metro pays mechanical engineers the most?+

Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler leads at a mean of $108,600 for 5,200 employed engineers, anchored by Intel's Ocotillo and Chandler fabs, the new TSMC Arizona facility, Honeywell Aerospace Phoenix, and Microchip Technology. Tucson follows at $100,400 for 1,100 engineers, dominated by Raytheon Missiles and Defense.

Is the TSMC Arizona facility driving up Phoenix mechanical engineer pay?+

Yes, materially. The TSMC Arizona fab in north Phoenix opened operations in 2025 and has been the largest single-facility ME hiring event in the state's history, with reported new-grad base offers in the $85,000 to $105,000 range and mid-career offers in the $130,000 to $160,000 range. The hiring pressure has lifted Intel Arizona pay bands by roughly 8 to 12 percent year-over-year and tightened the local ME labor market across all employers.

Is Arizona mechanical engineering pay worth it after cost of living?+

Yes. Phoenix at $108,600 mean with COL 104 produces $104,423 in adjusted purchasing power, just above the national mean. Tucson is the standout: $100,400 nominal at COL 96 produces $104,583 in adjusted purchasing power. Arizona ME pay produces above-national-mean real purchasing power without the housing-cost trap of coastal states.

Do mechanical engineers need a PE license to work in Arizona?+

Most semiconductor, aerospace, and defense roles do not require a PE license. The license is mandatory for engineers who sign off on building HVAC, structural mechanical, or public infrastructure designs under Arizona Revised Statutes Title 32 Chapter 1. The Arizona Board of Technical Registration administers licensing. The Arizona application fee is $150 plus an exam fee set by NCEES (around $375).

What is the entry-level mechanical engineer salary in Arizona?+

Entry-level mechanical engineers in Arizona (0 to 2 years experience) typically earn $63,000 to $80,000. Intel, TSMC, and Microchip Technology new-grad offers cluster around $72,000 to $90,000 base. Raytheon Tucson new-grad offers cluster around $68,000 to $82,000 base. Smaller manufacturers (Caterpillar Tucson, Honeywell Phoenix process) cluster around $62,000 to $74,000 base.

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Front Range aerospace cluster: $112,790 mean.

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