Cooks, Fast Food salary in Arizona
Cooks, Fast Food in Arizona earn a median of $32,660 a year ($15.70 an hour), based on BLS data for 11,210 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,440 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $30,890. Arizona ranks 19th of 51 states for cooks, fast food pay. There are 3.5 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $33,330, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Arizona
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,580 | $14.70 |
| 25th percentile | $30,960 | $14.89 |
| Median | $32,660 | $15.70 |
| 75th percentile | $35,040 | $16.85 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,440 | $17.52 |
| Average (mean) | $33,330 | $16.02 |
Half of cooks, fast food earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,721.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,360.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,256.15 |
| Weekly | $628.08 |
| Hourly | $15.70 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in cities in Arizona
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff, AZ | $33,950 | 300 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $33,190 | 7,900 |
| Tucson, AZ | $30,830 | 1,480 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
Related jobs in Arizona
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $39,660 | $19.07 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| Cooks, All Other | $41,740 | $20.07 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,230 | $16.46 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $43,950 | $21.13 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $40,550 | $19.49 |
| Bartender | $45,070 | $21.67 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,500 | $17.55 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,740 | $16.70 |
| Dishwasher | $35,130 | $16.89 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,390 | $17.01 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $59,890 | $28.79 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Arizona
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, fast food make in Arizona?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in Arizona is $32,660 a year, or $15.70 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Arizona?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in Arizona earn at least $36,440 a year. The top 25% earn $35,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Arizona?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,580 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $30,960 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Arizona?
About 11,210 cooks, fast food are employed in Arizona, not counting the self-employed.