Food Preparation Worker Salary in Tucson, AZ
Food Preparation Workers in the Tucson, AZ metro area earn a median $35,260 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,839 take-home, or $2,487 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Tucson, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,051
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,186
- Medicare (1.45%)$511
- Arizona income tax$673
- Take-home pay$29,839
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 Tucson, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,800 | $14.81 | $26,367 | $2,197 |
| 25th percentile | $31,870 | $15.32 | $27,200 | $2,267 |
| Median (50th) | $35,260 | $16.95 | $29,839 | $2,487 |
| 75th percentile | $36,880 | $17.73 | $31,100 | $2,592 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,330 | $20.35 | $35,343 | $2,945 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,260 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 food preparation worker's $29,839 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,795 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 Tucson, AZ as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.05).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Tucson, AZ ranks #16 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 |
| 16 | Tucson, AZ | $35,260 | $29,839 | $30,795 |
*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
- Phoenix, AZ — $37,580
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Tucson, AZ?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Tucson, AZ metro area is $35,260 a year, or about $16.95 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,870 and $36,880.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Tucson, AZ?
On the median $35,260 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $29,839 a year ($2,487 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $673 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Tucson, AZ a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,795 would in a typical U.S. city. Tucson, AZ ranks #16 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker 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) — 43% of a median food preparation worker’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
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,500
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,490
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,690