As of April 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Chief Engineer in Tucson, AZ is $280,973, equivalent to $135 per hour, $5,403 weekly, or $23,414 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Chief Engineer in cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, and Fremont.

Annually Salaries for Chief Engineer in Tucson, AZ vary widely, spanning from $231,527 to $314,234. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($255,091) and 75th percentile ($298,383), while top earners (90th percentile) make $314,234 per year. This $43,292 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Leadership or Housekeeping, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, Tucson Chief Engineer often earn 2.6% lower than national averages. However, Tucson currently ranks 566 statewide for Chief Engineer job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Chief Engineer Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $231,527 Tucson, AZ April 01, 2026
25th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $255,091 Tucson, AZ April 01, 2026
50th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $280,973 Tucson, AZ April 01, 2026
75th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $298,383 Tucson, AZ April 01, 2026
90th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $314,234 Tucson, AZ April 01, 2026
25% $255,091 10% $231,527 90% $314,234 75% $298,383 $280,973 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Chief Engineer

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What is a Chief Engineer ?

A chief engineer, commonly referred to as "ChEng" or "Chief", is the seniormost engine officer of an engine department on a ship, typically a merchant ship, and holds overall leadership and responsibility of that department. As a person who holds one of the most senior roles on the ship, he or she must have excellent communication and leadership skills. He or she will be expected to regularly work alongside other crew members and external consultants, and most importantly, provide guidance his or her team. To be a chief engineer, an engineer must attain a chief engineer's license appropriate ...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/17/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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Job Openings for Chief Engineer in Tucson, AZ

Understand the total compensation opportunity for a Chief Engineer, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
255091
298383
280973

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
330971
460671
387093
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Chief Engineer in Tucson, AZ. The base salary for Chief Engineer ranges from $255,091 to $298,383 with the average base salary of $280,973. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $330,971 to $460,671 with the average total cash compensation of $387,093.

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255091
298383

 

About Tucson, Arizona    Tucson (/ˈtuːsɒn, tuːˈsɒn/) is a city and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States, and home to the University of Arizona. The 2010 Unit....More

Tucson, Arizona  area prices were up 2.5% from a year ago

Chief Engineer Salary in popular cities: PhoenixMesaChandler

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