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
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 #116 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
| 116 | 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 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Arizona
- Lake Havasu City, AZ — $36,720
- Yuma, AZ — $36,080
- Flagstaff, AZ — $38,760
- Prescott Valley, AZ — $37,380
- 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 #116 of 327 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
- Chef and Head Cook — $49,990
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,200
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,620
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,490
- Bartender — $36,450
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,260
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,990
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $33,560
- Dishwasher — $33,490
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $32,010
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,690
- Cooks, Fast Food — $30,830