Cooks, Restaurant salary in Tucson, AZ
Cooks, Restaurant in the Tucson, AZ metro area earn a median of $37,500 a year ($18.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,810 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,910 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 3% lower than the Arizona statewide median of $38,670. There are 9.8 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $38,200, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Tucson, AZ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,170 | $14.99 |
| 25th percentile | $35,080 | $16.86 |
| Median | $37,500 | $18.03 |
| 75th percentile | $42,450 | $20.41 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,910 | $21.59 |
| Average (mean) | $38,200 | $18.37 |
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 | $3,125 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,562.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,442.31 |
| Weekly | $721.15 |
| Hourly | $18.03 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $39,170 | 21,780 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $38,760 | 1,230 |
| 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 Tucson, AZ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,260 | $16.95 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,830 | $14.82 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,620 | $18.09 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| Cooks, All Other | $38,800 | $18.65 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,690 | $15.24 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,490 | $17.54 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,200 | $18.36 |
| Bartender | $36,450 | $17.52 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,990 | $16.82 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $33,560 | $16.14 |
| Dishwasher | $33,490 | $16.10 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $32,010 | $15.39 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $49,990 | $24.04 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Tucson, 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 Tucson, AZ?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Tucson, AZ metro area is $37,500 a year, or $18.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,910 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Tucson, AZ?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Tucson, AZ metro area earn at least $44,910 a year. The top 25% earn $42,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Tucson, AZ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,170 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $35,080 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Tucson, AZ?
About 3,810 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Tucson, AZ metro area, not counting the self-employed.