Food Preparation Worker Salary in Flagstaff, AZ
Food Preparation Workers in the Flagstaff, AZ metro area earn a median $37,710 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,746 take-home, or $2,645 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Flagstaff, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,345
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,338
- Medicare (1.45%)$547
- Arizona income tax$734
- Take-home pay$31,746
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.50% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Flagstaff, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,870 | $15.32 | $27,200 | $2,267 |
| 25th percentile | $34,840 | $16.75 | $29,512 | $2,459 |
| Median (50th) | $37,710 | $18.13 | $31,746 | $2,645 |
| 75th percentile | $39,720 | $19.10 | $33,311 | $2,776 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,840 | $21.08 | $36,518 | $3,043 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,710 buys in Flagstaff, AZ
Prices in Flagstaff, AZ are 0.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.09× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $31,746 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,643 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Flagstaff, AZ has 1.5× the national concentration of food preparation worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Flagstaff, AZ ranks #33 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 33 | Flagstaff, AZ | $37,710 | $31,746 | $31,643 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Arizona
- Tucson, AZ — $35,260
- Phoenix, AZ — $37,580
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Flagstaff, AZ?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Flagstaff, AZ metro area is $37,710 a year, or about $18.13 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,840 and $39,720.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Flagstaff, AZ?
On the median $37,710 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $31,746 a year ($2,645 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $734 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Flagstaff, AZ a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,643 would in a typical U.S. city. Flagstaff, AZ ranks #33 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Flagstaff, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Flagstaff, AZ is $1,727 a month ($1,921 for two bedrooms) — 65% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Flagstaff, AZ
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $43,300
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,760
- Waiter and Waitress — $37,080
- Bartender — $36,270
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $35,340
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $33,690