Cooks, Restaurant salary in Arizona
Cooks, Restaurant in Arizona earn a median of $38,670 a year ($18.59 an hour), based on BLS data for 30,870 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,240 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $37,390. Arizona ranks 14th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 9.5 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $40,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Arizona
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,250 | $15.99 |
| 25th percentile | $36,200 | $17.40 |
| Median | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| 75th percentile | $44,870 | $21.57 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,240 | $22.23 |
| Average (mean) | $40,070 | $19.27 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $3,222.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,611.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,487.31 |
| Weekly | $743.65 |
| Hourly | $18.59 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in cities in Arizona
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $39,170 | 21,780 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $38,760 | 1,230 |
| Tucson, AZ | $37,500 | 3,810 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $37,380 | 1,150 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $36,720 | 750 |
| Yuma, AZ | $36,080 | 590 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $35,380 | 300 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
Related jobs in Arizona
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $32,660 | $15.70 |
| 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 35-2014. 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, restaurant make in Arizona?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Arizona is $38,670 a year, or $18.59 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,240 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Arizona?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Arizona earn at least $46,240 a year. The top 25% earn $44,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Arizona?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,250 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $36,200 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Arizona?
About 30,870 cooks, restaurant are employed in Arizona, not counting the self-employed.