Jobs, pay and daily life in Sierra Vista, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Sierra Vista is a city in Arizona with 45,155 residents. The median household earns $70,291 a year and the median rent is $1,150 a month, which is 19.6% of the median household income. It is part of the Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ metropolitan area, where BLS counts 33,970 jobs.
How Sierra Vista compares. Among the 80 largest places in Arizona, Sierra Vista is #27 by population, #69 for homeownership (#1 = highest), #16 for long commutes (#1 = fewest), #27 for college degrees (#1 = most). Its county, Cochise County, is #4 of 15 counties for average pay ($59,877).
Sierra Vista has 45,155 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.6% of the population of Arizona. It covers 152 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 296 people per square mile. The median age is 37.9, about the same as the state median (37.9 against 39.0).
The median gross rent is $1,150 a month (rent plus utilities), 25% below the state median ($1,150 against $1,543). Over a year that is 19.6% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $254,200, which is 3.6 times the median household income ($70,291); a ratio under 4 usually means ownership is within reach for many households. 62.0% of households own their home, 8% below the state average (62.0% against 67.4%).
The Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ metropolitan area has 33,970 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $47,050 a year, 8% below the national median ($47,050 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (3,830 jobs, median $40,640); sales and related (3,270 jobs, median $34,120); food preparation and serving related (2,790 jobs, median $32,310). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Cochise County was 5.8%. 49.8% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Cochise County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 72.5% drive alone, 0.1% use public transit, 2.2% walk, 12.3% work from home. 8.1% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 43% below the state average (8.1% against 14.2%).
35.0% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 5% above the state share (35.0% against 33.3%). 10.4% of residents were born outside the United States, 20% below the state share (10.4% against 13.0%). The poverty rate is 12.0%, 4% below the state rate (12.0% against 12.5%).
The warmest month is Jun, averaging 80°F (26.4°C), and the coolest is Dec at 45°F (7.2°C). About 371 mm (15 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Jul is the wettest month (102 mm) and May the driest (4 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.
Closest cities in this guide: Sierra Vista Southeast (10 miles, similar rent); Corona de Tucson (38 miles, rent 92% higher); Vail (39 miles, rent 79% higher); Nogales (39 miles, rent 36% lower). Rent differences are against Sierra Vista; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in Arizona (983) →State guide: ArizonaCountry guideCochise CountyArizona rankings
These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.
There are 983 federal postings open in Arizona (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in Arizona →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cashiers | 1,150 | 1.70 | $31,570 | $30,580 | $35,720 | -4% |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,060 | 1.24 | $33,140 | $30,580 | $43,890 | -6% |
| General and Operations Managers | 1,040 | 1.36 | $78,740 | $44,000 | $166,260 | -26% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 740 | 0.88 | $30,580 | $30,580 | $34,530 | -2% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 690 | 1.12 | $36,530 | $31,330 | $46,990 | -2% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 600 | 1.21 | $34,020 | $30,580 | $63,310 | -3% |
| Office Clerks, General | 570 | 1.07 | $40,400 | $30,770 | $61,460 | -10% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 560 | 0.98 | $37,120 | $30,580 | $50,440 | -17% |
| Registered Nurses | 560 | 0.76 | $85,380 | $72,890 | $112,910 | -12% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 520 | 1.68 | $32,400 | $30,580 | $36,940 | -12% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 520 | 1.57 | $39,460 | $31,690 | $64,520 | -20% |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | 520 | 6.28 | $54,970 | $45,780 | $64,080 | -7% |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | 500 | 5.29 | $118,120 | $82,870 | $148,030 | +1% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 450 | 1.49 | $47,980 | $38,080 | $73,680 | -25% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 390 | 0.81 | $32,960 | $30,580 | $42,650 | -11% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 360 | 0.97 | $40,230 | $32,940 | $59,080 | -15% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 340 | 1.43 | $93,310 | $62,250 | $122,530 | +12% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 330 | 0.35 | $30,630 | $30,580 | $37,040 | -14% |
| Security Guards | 310 | 1.12 | $36,410 | $32,050 | $53,410 | -4% |
| Construction Laborers | 310 | 1.29 | $43,610 | $34,060 | $54,000 | -7% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Occupations, All Other | 500 | 5.29 | $118,120 | $82,870 | $148,030 | +1% |
| Registered Nurses | 560 | 0.76 | $85,380 | $72,890 | $112,910 | -12% |
| General and Operations Managers | 1,040 | 1.36 | $78,740 | $44,000 | $166,260 | -26% |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | 520 | 6.28 | $54,970 | $45,780 | $64,080 | -7% |
| Office Clerks, General | 570 | 1.07 | $40,400 | $30,770 | $61,460 | -10% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 520 | 1.57 | $39,460 | $31,690 | $64,520 | -20% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 560 | 0.98 | $37,120 | $30,580 | $50,440 | -17% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 690 | 1.12 | $36,530 | $31,330 | $46,990 | -2% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 600 | 1.21 | $34,020 | $30,580 | $63,310 | -3% |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,060 | 1.24 | $33,140 | $30,580 | $43,890 | -6% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 520 | 1.68 | $32,400 | $30,580 | $36,940 | -12% |
| Cashiers | 1,150 | 1.70 | $31,570 | $30,580 | $35,720 | -4% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 740 | 0.88 | $30,580 | $30,580 | $34,530 | -2% |
These figures are for the whole Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $47,050 (US $50,980); unemployment 5.8% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.5% |
| Public administration | 15.6% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 14.8% |
| Retail trade | 11.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 10.1% |
| Construction | 6.3% |
| Other services | 5.0% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 4.4% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 3.8% |
| Manufacturing | 2.3% |
| Wholesale trade | 0.7% |
| Information | 0.7% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.5% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Sierra Vista lies and cover the whole county, not only the city.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP (2024) ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs (QCEW 2024) ⇅ | Employer sites ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Job change vs 2023 ⇅ | Unemployment rate ⇅ | Labour force ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cochise County | 125,566 | $6,576 million | $52,373 | 34,954 | 2,604 | $59,877 | +0.8% | 5.8% | 45,700 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 4,553 | 18.7% | $33,638 | 1.30 |
| Health care and social assistance | 4,243 | 17.4% | $59,999 | 0.85 |
| Accommodation and food services | 3,308 | 13.6% | $24,672 | 1.04 |
| Professional and technical services | 2,512 | 10.3% | $89,580 | 1.03 |
| Construction | 2,097 | 8.6% | $57,904 | 1.14 |
| Administrative and waste services | 1,089 | 4.5% | $44,527 | 0.53 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing | 1,042 | 4.3% | $50,105 | 3.68 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 835 | 3.4% | $62,108 | 0.56 |
| Manufacturing | 792 | 3.2% | $58,191 | 0.28 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 596 | 2.4% | $34,004 | 0.57 |
| Finance and insurance | 585 | 2.4% | $64,426 | 0.41 |
| Utilities | 553 | 2.3% | $100,302 | 4.16 |
| Educational services | 508 | 2.1% | $65,308 | 0.70 |
| Wholesale trade | 477 | 2.0% | $74,715 | 0.35 |
| Information | 433 | 1.8% | $62,355 | 0.66 |
| Real estate and rental | 372 | 1.5% | $46,557 | 0.69 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 257 | 1.1% | $28,409 | 0.44 |
| Management of companies | 110 | 0.5% | $343,088 | 0.19 |
| Mining, oil and gas | 39 | 0.2% | $90,975 | 0.29 |
QCEW counts jobs covered by unemployment insurance; sectors with too few employers are withheld by BLS. Latest-month unemployment is preliminary.
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 72.5% |
| Public transit | 0.1% |
| Walk | 2.2% |
| Work from home | 12.3% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 8.1% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $70,291 |
| Income per person | $37,821 |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,150 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 19.6% |
| Median home value | $254,200 |
| Homeowners | 62.0% |
| Poverty rate | 12.0% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 89.2 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $47,050 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Flat 2.50%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 94.0% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 35.0% |
| Born abroad | 10.4% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 49.8% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7.3 | 45 | 24 |
| Feb | 8.7 | 48 | 21 |
| Mar | 12.2 | 54 | 15 |
| Apr | 15.8 | 60 | 7 |
| May | 20.5 | 69 | 4 |
| Jun | 26.4 | 80 | 11 |
| Jul | 26.1 | 79 | 102 |
| Aug | 25.3 | 78 | 82 |
| Sep | 23.1 | 74 | 50 |
| Oct | 17.9 | 64 | 15 |
| Nov | 12.1 | 54 | 16 |
| Dec | 7.2 | 45 | 24 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Vista Southeast | AZ | 10 mi | 14,330 | $75,417 | $1,180 |
| Corona de Tucson | AZ | 38 mi | 9,566 | $132,568 | $2,213 |
| Vail | AZ | 39 mi | 16,315 | $130,904 | $2,057 |
| Nogales | AZ | 39 mi | 19,841 | $43,214 | $737 |
| Rio Rico | AZ | 40 mi | 22,017 | $61,348 | $1,091 |
| Green Valley | AZ | 45 mi | 22,114 | $62,063 | $1,171 |
| Sahuarita | AZ | 46 mi | 35,862 | $104,680 | $1,837 |
| Douglas | AZ | 47 mi | 15,981 | $42,019 | $772 |
| Tucson | AZ | 52 mi | 547,073 | $57,073 | $1,145 |
| Tanque Verde | AZ | 55 mi | 15,866 | $121,599 | $1,347 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
45,155 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$1,150 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 19.6% of the median household income.
$70,291 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
5.8% (BLS county, Cochise County (latest month 2026M09)).
Arizona. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.