Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald: Electricians install new lighting at the Giant gas station at 8th Avenue and 8th Street. Census Bureau statistics show utility workers make the most on average in Arizona while retail workers are in the lowest average annual salary group.
Contributed Article/Courtesy Venture Smarter
PHOENIX – Workers in the utility industry in Arizona earn the highest average salary of any sector state-wide, at around $109,000 per year.
Research from business advice company Venture Smarter has shed light on the highest-earning sectors across Arizona. Figures from the United States Census Bureau on employment numbers and total salary per sector as of March 2021 were analyzed to reveal the average annual salary of each industry.
With the highest average annual salary of $109,592, those working in utilities are in the best position in Arizona. A total of 12,632 people work in this sector across electric power, natural gas, steam supply, water supply, and sewage removal.
Arizona residents working in utilities were paid $1,384,363,000 over a year, equating to just 0.99% of the accumulated earnings of employees all over the state.
People in finance and insurance were the second-highest earners in Arizona. Individuals working in this sector secured an average annual salary of $90,372.
Approximately 173,705 workers are in these roles across Arizona, earning an accumulated $15,698,078,000 per year. The earnings of those in roles like insurance brokers, financial advisors, and more comprised 11.17% of the total wages state-wide.
The third highest-earning industry in Arizona is information, with the average annual wage at $88,394. Approximately 48,983 people work in the information sector across the state, including in publishing, film, sound recordings, broadcasting, telecommunications, data processing, and more.
Employees in information earn an accumulated annual salary of $4,329,792,000, which makes up 3.08% of the total state-wide earnings across every sector.
Despite being one of Arizona’s most populated industries with 280,156 employees, people in the accommodation and food services sector earn the lowest average annual salary at $25,218. Job roles within this industry include servers, housekeepers, and various other hospitality positions.
Residents in agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting are the state’s next-lowest paid, with an average wage of $36,308 annually.
A spokesperson from Venture Smarter commented on the findings and said, “Employed people all over Arizona earn around $140,516,905,000 each year, with the average state-wide annual salary sitting at $57,048.”
“Utilities, finance, and higher management continue to be some of the most profitable industries across America, while the nation’s most populated industries like retail and food services appear to be some of the lowest paid on average.”
