Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Cooks, Fast Food in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $33,190 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,227 take-home, or $2,352 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, fast food salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,803
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,058
- Medicare (1.45%)$481
- Arizona income tax$621
- Take-home pay$28,227
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.50% state
Cooks, Fast Food pay by experience in Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,960 | $14.88 | $26,491 | $2,208 |
| 25th percentile | $31,400 | $15.10 | $26,834 | $2,236 |
| Median (50th) | $33,190 | $15.96 | $28,227 | $2,352 |
| 75th percentile | $35,610 | $17.12 | $30,111 | $2,509 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,690 | $17.64 | $30,952 | $2,579 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,190 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 cooks, fast food's $28,227 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,321 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, Fast Food jobs are about as common in Phoenix, AZ as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.81).
Best-paying cities for cooks, fast food, adjusted for cost of living
Phoenix, AZ ranks #72 of 174 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $47,220 | $38,625 | $34,979 |
| 2 | Merced, CA | $40,430 | $33,533 | $34,122 |
| 3 | Bakersfield, CA | $41,480 | $34,321 | $34,020 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $38,560 | $33,163 | $33,817 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $44,030 | $37,558 | $33,796 |
| 6 | Modesto, CA | $42,510 | $35,094 | $33,710 |
| 7 | Vallejo, CA | $44,450 | $36,550 | $33,694 |
| 8 | Hanford, CA | $41,280 | $34,171 | $33,629 |
| 72 | Phoenix, AZ | $33,190 | $28,227 | $27,321 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 174 metros →
Cooks, Fast Food salaries elsewhere in Arizona
- Tucson, AZ — $30,830
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, fast food make in Phoenix, AZ?
The median cooks, fast food salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $33,190 a year, or about $15.96 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,400 and $35,610.
What is a cooks, fast food’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $33,190 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $28,227 a year ($2,352 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $621 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a cooks, fast food?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $30,890. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,321 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #72 of 174 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, fast food 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) — 67% of a median cooks, fast food’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
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $38,200
- Food Preparation Worker — $37,580
- 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