Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Tucson, AZ
Cooks, Restaurant in the Tucson, AZ metro area earn a median $37,500 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,583 take-home, or $2,632 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Tucson, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,320
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,325
- Medicare (1.45%)$544
- Arizona income tax$729
- Take-home pay$31,583
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.50% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Tucson, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,170 | $14.99 | $26,655 | $2,221 |
| 25th percentile | $35,080 | $16.87 | $29,699 | $2,475 |
| Median (50th) | $37,500 | $18.03 | $31,583 | $2,632 |
| 75th percentile | $42,450 | $20.41 | $35,436 | $2,953 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,910 | $21.59 | $37,351 | $3,113 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,500 buys in Tucson, AZ
Prices in Tucson, AZ are 3.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 8% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $31,583 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,594 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Tucson, AZ as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.08).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Tucson, AZ ranks #35 of 101 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $46,560 | $37,630 | $36,943 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $47,730 | $40,531 | $36,471 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $47,170 | $38,588 | $34,946 |
| 5 | Worcester, MA | $44,250 | $35,742 | $34,863 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $44,370 | $36,587 | $34,588 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $37,840 | $31,742 | $34,536 |
| 8 | Atlantic City, NJ | $40,250 | $33,830 | $34,221 |
| 35 | Tucson, AZ | $37,500 | $31,583 | $32,594 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 101 metros →
About the job: cooks, restaurant
Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Arizona
- Phoenix, AZ — $39,170
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Tucson, AZ?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Tucson, AZ metro area is $37,500 a year, or about $18.03 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,080 and $42,450.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Tucson, AZ?
On the median $37,500 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $31,583 a year ($2,632 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $729 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Tucson, AZ a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,594 would in a typical U.S. city. Tucson, AZ ranks #35 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Tucson, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Tucson, AZ is $1,081 a month ($1,402 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Tucson, AZ
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,200
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,490
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,260
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,690