Cooks, Short Order salary in Tucson, AZ
Cooks, Short Order in the Tucson, AZ metro area earn a median of $36,080 a year ($17.35 an hour), based on BLS data for 260 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,630 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 23% lower than the Arizona statewide median of $46,630. There are 0.67 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.75). The average (mean) salary is $38,560, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Tucson, AZ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,090 | $15.43 |
| 25th percentile | $32,090 | $15.43 |
| Median | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| 75th percentile | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| Average (mean) | $38,560 | $18.54 |
Half of cooks, short order 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 | $3,006.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,503.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,387.69 |
| Weekly | $693.85 |
| Hourly | $17.35 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Short Order salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $50,180 | n/a |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $34,830 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
See Cooks, Short Order pay in every state or the Arizona statewide figures.
Related jobs in Tucson, AZ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,500 | $18.03 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,260 | $16.95 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,830 | $14.82 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,620 | $18.09 |
| 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 35-2015. 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, short order make in Tucson, AZ?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Tucson, AZ metro area is $36,080 a year, or $17.35 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,630 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Tucson, AZ?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Tucson, AZ metro area earn at least $46,630 a year. The top 25% earn $46,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Tucson, AZ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,090 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $32,090 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Tucson, AZ?
About 260 cooks, short order are employed in the Tucson, AZ metro area, not counting the self-employed.