Food Preparation Worker Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Food Preparation Workers in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $37,580 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,645 take-home, or $2,637 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,330
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,330
- Medicare (1.45%)$545
- Arizona income tax$731
- Take-home pay$31,645
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.50% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,730 | $15.25 | $27,091 | $2,258 |
| 25th percentile | $34,600 | $16.63 | $29,325 | $2,444 |
| Median (50th) | $37,580 | $18.07 | $31,645 | $2,637 |
| 75th percentile | $41,320 | $19.87 | $34,556 | $2,880 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,640 | $21.46 | $37,141 | $3,095 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,580 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $31,645 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,629 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Preparation Worker jobs are about as common in Phoenix, AZ as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.87).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Phoenix, AZ ranks #19 of 65 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 3 | Omaha, NE | $36,140 | $30,454 | $33,134 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $36,930 | $31,620 | $33,121 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $35,360 | $30,402 | $32,369 |
| 6 | Jacksonville, FL | $36,730 | $31,693 | $31,857 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $34,390 | $29,812 | $31,476 |
| 8 | North Port, FL | $37,320 | $32,167 | $31,408 |
| 19 | Phoenix, AZ | $37,580 | $31,645 | $30,629 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 65 metros →
About the job: food preparation workers
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -3.0% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Arizona
- Tucson, AZ — $35,260
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Phoenix, AZ?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $37,580 a year, or about $18.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,600 and $41,320.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $37,580 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $31,645 a year ($2,637 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $731 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,629 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #19 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 for two bedrooms) — 60% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Phoenix, AZ
- Chef and Head Cook — $61,400
- Waiter and Waitress — $47,530
- Bartender — $46,940
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,100
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $40,120
- Cooks, Restaurant — $39,170
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $36,960
- Dishwasher — $35,780
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,690
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $35,080
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,540
- Cooks, Fast Food — $33,190