Quick answer:Mining and Geological Engineers in the Tucson area earn a median $106,220 per year, level with the national median of $106,220, and the metro employs about 140 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Mining Engineering Pay in Tucson, AZ
Metric
Tucson metro
Arizona
National
Median annual wage
$106,220
$102,130
$106,220
10th percentile
$97,460
$82,390
$67,490
25th percentile
$97,750
$97,130
$85,280
75th percentile
$127,290
$124,700
$136,590
90th percentile
$230,180
$173,560
$169,990
Employment
140
690
6,080
Location quotient
9.38
-
1.00
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Tucson, AZ metropolitan statistical area.
What the Numbers Say About This Market
The Tucson median of $106,220 is level with the national median of $106,220, and above the Arizona statewide median of $102,130 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 9.38 means mining and geological engineers are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Mining engineering employment follows active mining districts, so it is concentrated in a small number of states and is cyclical with commodity prices.
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Mining engineering uses the standard state Professional Engineer framework, and licensure is somewhat more common here than in other industrial disciplines because ground control and ventilation design carry public-safety weight. Separately, federal mine safety regulation through MSHA governs operations regardless of any individual license.
See the Arizona licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state engineering licensing board and MSHA.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 1 school
within 7 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
1 of them carries a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
How much do mining and geological engineers make in Tucson?
The median annual wage for mining and geological engineers in the Tucson, AZ metro area is $106,220, level with the national median of $106,220 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many mining and geological engineers work in the Tucson area?
The Tucson, AZ metro area employs about 140 mining and geological engineers (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Do mining and geological engineers in Tucson need a license?
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Mining engineering uses the standard state Professional Engineer framework, and licensure is somewhat more common here than in other industrial disciplines because ground control and ventilation design carry public-safety weight. Separately, federal mine safety regulation through MSHA governs operations regardless of any individual license. Confirm current requirements with your state engineering licensing board and MSHA.
Can I study mining engineering online from Tucson?
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state engineering licensing board and MSHA.
Is Tucson a better market than the rest of Arizona?
The Tucson metro median is $106,220 against a statewide median of $102,130 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Mining and Geological Engineers (SOC 17-2151), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
