Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $40,120 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $33,622 take-home, or $2,802 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,634
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,487
- Medicare (1.45%)$582
- Arizona income tax$794
- Take-home pay$33,622
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.50% state
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay by experience in Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,980 | $17.30 | $30,399 | $2,533 |
| 25th percentile | $38,080 | $18.31 | $32,034 | $2,670 |
| Median (50th) | $40,120 | $19.29 | $33,622 | $2,802 |
| 75th percentile | $46,810 | $22.50 | $38,830 | $3,236 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,570 | $23.35 | $40,200 | $3,350 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $40,120 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, institution and cafeteria's $33,622 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,543 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, Institution and Cafeteria jobs are less concentrated in Phoenix, AZ than nationally (location quotient 0.70), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria, adjusted for cost of living
Phoenix, AZ ranks #20 of 37 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $51,530 | $43,584 | $39,218 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $51,880 | $42,029 | $38,062 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $48,530 | $38,967 | $35,992 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $45,070 | $37,119 | $35,090 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $44,830 | $36,621 | $34,936 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $49,140 | $40,027 | $34,622 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $47,100 | $38,537 | $34,443 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $44,470 | $36,565 | $34,352 |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $40,120 | $33,622 | $32,543 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 37 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Phoenix, AZ?
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $40,120 a year, or about $19.29 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,080 and $46,810.
What is a cooks, institution and cafeteria’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $40,120 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $33,622 a year ($2,802 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $794 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a cooks, institution and cafeteria?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $37,450. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,543 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #20 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria 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) — 56% of a median cooks, institution and cafeteria’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, Restaurant — $39,170
- 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
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,540
- Cooks, Fast Food — $33,190