Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Tucson

In Tucson (AZ), the median pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria is $18.09 an hour ($37,620 a year). About 1,030 people work in this job there.

$18.09Median hourly pay
$35,220–$43,460Middle half of workers, yearly
1,030People in this job in Tucson (AZ)

That is about the same as the U.S. median ($37,450). It is 5% lower than the Arizona median ($39,660).

Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Tucson (AZ)

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$15.31$31,840
25% of workers$16.93$35,220
Half of workers (median)$18.09$37,620
75% of workers$20.90$43,460
90% of workers$22.64$47,100

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Arizona metro areas

Metro areaMedian yearly payPeople in this job
Flagstaff$40,380260
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler$40,1204,700
Prescott Valley-Prescott$39,190260
Tucson (this page)$37,6201,030
Lake Havasu City-Kingman$37,340130
Sierra Vista-Douglas$35,79080
Yuma$34,680250

Arizona unemployment rate: 4.9% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Education, experience and outlook for cooks, institution and cafeteria

  • Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
  • Related work experience most have: 1 to 3 months (O*NET)
  • Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
  • Job outlook: +2.8% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 62,900 openings a year (BLS)

Related jobs in Tucson (AZ)

JobMedian yearly pay
Fast Food and Counter Workers$31,690
Cooks, Restaurant$37,500
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$38,200
Food Preparation Workers$35,260
Cooks, Fast Food$30,830

Other job titles for this job

Food Service SpecialistCulinary SpecialistSous ChefBoarding House CookCafeteria CookCamp CookDietary CookDinner CookGalley CookInstitutional CookKitchen CookMess Cook

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.