Jobs & Economy in Glendale
Glendale's economy runs through a genuinely diversified set of real anchors rather than a single dominant employer: Luke Air Force Base's F-35 training mission, Midwestern University's health-sciences campus, and a mix of aerospace, financial-services, and healthcare employers layered under the city's real sports-and-entertainment-district infrastructure.
Exploring the idea of moving?
We can connect you with a local real estate professional who knows the area -- no pressure, just a starting point.
Learn moreLuke Air Force Base: a real, large-scale military-economic anchor
Luke Air Force Base, located directly inside Glendale, employs 4,300 active duty personnel, 1,300 reservists, and 1,300 civilian staff, and trains 75% of the world's F-35 pilots -- a currently-active, large-scale mission, not a legacy installation. Its total Arizona economic impact is cited between $2.17 billion and $2.4 billion depending on source (both figures disclosed rather than reconciled to one number). Projections cited defense spending at Luke resulting in 13,900 jobs and $820 million in compensation, with roughly 90% of newly created defense-related regional jobs landing in Glendale, Surprise, Goodyear, and Avondale specifically.
Midwestern University: a real, sourced higher-education economic driver
Midwestern University's Glendale campus (a private graduate health-sciences institution) contributed a cited $767 million to the local economy in 2023-24 alone, has invested more than $400 million in Glendale cumulatively, and created over 900 campus-based jobs -- more than 17,000 healthcare professionals had graduated from its programs as of September 2024, with 41% remaining in Arizona to practice.
A diversified set of other named employers
Beyond Luke AFB and Midwestern University, major Glendale employers cited in 2026 coverage include Honeywell Aerospace, Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, and Banner Health/Abrazo Arrowhead Campus -- spanning aerospace manufacturing, financial services, and healthcare rather than a single-industry town. Glendale is also cited as home to roughly 50,000 college students combined across the nearby ASU West Valley campus, Midwestern, Arizona Christian University, and Glendale Community College.
What this research pass could not confirm
A Glendale-specific unemployment rate was not confirmed with a precise, independently sourced 2026 figure this session. Arizona's statewide seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 4.9% in July 2026 -- a real, current figure, but describing the whole state, not Glendale specifically, and disclosed here as a gap rather than substituted as a local number.
Key takeaways
- Luke Air Force Base employs 4,300 active duty, 1,300 reservists, and 1,300 civilian staff, trains 75% of the world's F-35 pilots, and carries a total Arizona economic impact cited between $2.17 billion and $2.4 billion depending on source.
- Midwestern University's Glendale campus contributed a cited $767 million to the local economy in 2023-24 alone and has created over 900 campus-based jobs, with more than 17,000 healthcare-professional graduates as of September 2024.
- Other named major employers span aerospace (Honeywell), financial services (Alaska USA Federal Credit Union), and healthcare (Banner Health/Abrazo Arrowhead Campus) -- a genuinely diversified base, not a single-industry town.
- A Glendale-specific unemployment rate was not confirmed this pass; Arizona's statewide rate was 4.9% in July 2026, a state-level figure disclosed here as a gap rather than substituted for a local one.
Want to know what your budget actually buys here?
Tell us a bit about what you're looking for and we'll connect you with someone local who can walk you through real numbers.
Get local guidanceRead the full Glendale overview for the complete picture -- housing, taxes, climate, and who this place genuinely fits.
Planning a move?
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll connect you with a local expert who can help you make it happen.
Talk to a local expert