Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Tucson
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,100 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Tucson earn between $35,220 and $43,460.
- $32K10th
- $35K25th
- $38KMedian
- $43K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,210 | $3,268 | $18.85 |
| Median | $37,620 | $3,135 | $18.09 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,220 | $2,935 | $16.93 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,460 | $3,622 | $20.89 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Tucson vs. Arizona and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Tucson earn 5% less than the Arizona average ($41,350) and about the same as the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is +0% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson | $39,210 | $37,620 | $31,840 | $47,100 | 1,030 |
| Arizona | $41,350 | $39,660 | $34,490 | $48,370 | 7,170 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Tucson
On the average salary of $39,210, a single filer in Tucson takes home about $33,099 a year, or $2,758 a month and $1,273 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Tucson a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Tucson area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.9), so the average $39,210 buys what about $40,466 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Tucson ($47,760). A typical home costs $343,580, or 8.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Arizona cities
Tucson ranks 4th of 7 Arizona metro areas for this job; Phoenix pays the most ($42,250).
- Phoenix$42,250
- Flagstaff$41,840
- Prescott Valley$41,170
- Tucson$39,210
- Lake Havasu City$37,970
- Yuma$36,480
- Sierra Vista$35,920
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Tucson: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Tucson?
$18.85 an hour on average, and $18.09 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Tucson?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,220, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Tucson?
About $33,099 a year ($2,758 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,210.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Tucson than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2012; area Tucson, AZ (46060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.93, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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