Cooks, Restaurant salary in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
Cooks, Restaurant in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median of $39,170 a year ($18.83 an hour), based on BLS data for 21,780 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,500 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 1% higher than the Arizona statewide median of $38,670. There are 9.2 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $40,910, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,940 | $16.80 |
| 25th percentile | $37,460 | $18.01 |
| Median | $39,170 | $18.83 |
| 75th percentile | $45,150 | $21.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,500 | $22.36 |
| Average (mean) | $40,910 | $19.67 |
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 | $3,264.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,632.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,506.54 |
| Weekly | $753.27 |
| Hourly | $18.83 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Arizona statewide figures.
Related jobs in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $37,580 | $18.07 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,190 | $15.96 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $40,120 | $19.29 |
| Cooks, All Other | $46,960 | $22.58 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $50,180 | $24.12 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,540 | $16.61 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $47,530 | $22.85 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $42,100 | $20.24 |
| Bartender | $46,940 | $22.57 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,960 | $17.77 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $35,080 | $16.87 |
| Dishwasher | $35,780 | $17.20 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,690 | $17.16 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,400 | $29.52 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $39,170 a year, or $18.83 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,500 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn at least $46,500 a year. The top 25% earn $45,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,940 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $37,460 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ?
About 21,780 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area, not counting the self-employed.