A method of fabricating a capacitive micromechanical electrical system (MEMS) pressure sensor includes the steps of forming a backing wafer, forming a diaphragm wafer that includes a diaphragm configured to deflect from an applied force and a pressure cavity configured to produce on the diaphragm the applied force which is indicative of a system pressure; fusing the diaphragm wafer to the backing wafer thereby forming a base wafer, forming a top wafer, joining the top wafer to the base wafer, thereby forming a detector wafer. The diaphragm defines a first capacitor surface and the top wafer defines a second capacitor surface. A void separates the second capacitor surface from the first capacitor surface by a separation distance which is a capacitor gap. A capacitive MEMS pressure sensor is also disclosed.