Data Entry Specialist salary in Tucson, AZ
The median data entry specialist in Tucson earned $42,140 a year in May 20251. That is 1.9% above the US median of $41,340, even though it is 2.5% below the Arizona statewide median of $43,200. Among US areas it comes in at #106 of 394. BLS counts about 320 people in this job here, 9% of the Arizona total.
BLS occupation 43-9021, area Tucson, AZ. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Tucson against Arizona and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson, AZ | $32,030 | $42,140 | $53,760 | |
| Arizona | $33,860 | $43,200 | $54,900 | |
| United States | $31,200 | $41,340 | $58,790 |
The middle half of data entry specialists in Tucson earns $34,930–$46,160. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $53,760, only 1.7 times the bottom tenth, against 1.9 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $11,230 wide, against $12,960 across Arizona and $12,650 nationally: employers in Tucson pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a data entry specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $32,030 | $2,669 | $15.40 | $41,329 |
| 25th percentile | $34,930 | $2,911 | $16.79 | $45,071 |
| Median | $42,140 | $3,512 | $20.26 | $54,374 |
| 75th percentile | $46,160 | $3,847 | $22.19 | $59,561 |
| 90th percentile | $53,760 | $4,480 | $25.85 | $69,368 |
Local pay is bunched just above the median: the 75th percentile is only $4,020 over it, while the 25th sits $7,210 below. Moving an offer from the median to the 75th percentile costs about $5,187 more a year with benefits. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $41,340 falls between the 25th percentile and the median in Tucson, and the Arizona statewide median of $43,200 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Tucson
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $12,234 to the $42,140 median and brings it to $54,374 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for data entry specialists we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Tucson
Of the 17 roles we track in Tucson, this one ranks #14 by median pay, between administrative assistants ($45,030) and medical administrative assistants ($41,610). Project Coordinator is the highest at $91,500.
| Role | Median | vs data entry specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | +8.8% | 180 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +6.9% | 3,630 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | this role | 320 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -1.3% | 2,050 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -4.9% | 7,880 |
Measured against the US median, this job is the best paid of the 17 roles we track in Tucson (+1.9%); marketing specialists come last (-24.4%). The typical role here is at -10.1%, so, measured against the US, data entry specialists cost more in Tucson than the area's general pay level would suggest. Data entry specialists hold 0.9% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Tucson, 1.0% across Arizona and 0.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Arizona
Across the 8 areas of Arizona with data for this job, the median runs from $34,850 in the Arizona nonmetro area to $45,890 in Yuma, a gap of $11,040 a year. The one area in Arizona with more data entry specialists, Phoenix-Mesa, AZ ($44,160), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs Tucson | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | +8.6% | 50 | |
| Flagstaff, AZ | +6.2% | 40 | |
| Phoenix-Mesa, AZ | +4.8% | 2,650 | |
| Tucson, AZ | this area | 320 | |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | -10.7% | 50 | |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | -15.5% | 40 | |
| Arizona (Nonmetro) | -17.3% | 40 |
Tucson against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Tucson is #67 of 389 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Arizona, Roanoke and Lansing-East Lansing pay just above Tucson and Idaho Falls and Kennewick-Richland just below. All four are within $210 a year of the median in Tucson. Of the three markets with about as many data entry specialists, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Tucson | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | +0.5% | 160 | pay | |
| Roanoke, VA | +0.4% | 70 | pay | |
| Tucson, AZ | this area | 320 | ||
| Idaho Falls, ID | -0.2% | 70 | pay | |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | -0.4% | 50 | pay | |
| Lincoln, NE | -1.8% | 330 | jobs | |
| Akron, OH | -11.3% | 310 | jobs | |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | -17.2% | 320 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a data entry specialist in Tucson, AZ?
About $54,374 a year at the median, or $4,531 a month: $42,140 in pay plus about $12,234 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do data entry specialists earn in Tucson?
The median was $42,140 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $32,030, the 90th $53,760, and the middle half earned $34,930 to $46,160.
Is Tucson cheaper than the rest of Arizona for data entry specialists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $42,140 against $43,200 statewide. The next area up in Arizona is Phoenix-Mesa at $44,160, the next down Prescott Valley-Prescott at $37,640.
How many data entry specialists work in Tucson?
BLS counts about 320 in the May 2025 survey. That is 9% of the Arizona total of 3,420. Only Phoenix-Mesa has more in Arizona.
Does a data entry specialist cost more than a medical administrative assistant in Tucson?
Yes: $530 a year more at the median. The medians are $42,140 and $41,610.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-9021: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.