Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Tucson
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,760 a year or less, while the top 10% make $84,700 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Tucson earn between $39,200 and $73,160.
- $36K10th
- $39K25th
- $50KMedian
- $73K75th
- $85K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $56,750 | $4,729 | $27.28 |
| Median | $49,990 | $4,166 | $24.03 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,200 | $3,267 | $18.85 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $73,160 | $6,097 | $35.17 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Tucson vs. Arizona and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Tucson earn 6% less than the Arizona average ($60,330) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -20% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson | $56,750 | $49,990 | $35,760 | $84,700 | 580 |
| Arizona | $60,330 | $59,890 | $33,970 | $95,240 | 4,080 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Tucson
On the average salary of $56,750, a single filer in Tucson takes home about $46,754 a year, or $3,896 a month and $1,798 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% 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 chefs and head cooks? 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 $56,750 buys what about $58,568 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Tucson ($47,760). A typical home costs $343,580, or 6.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Arizona cities
Tucson ranks 4th of 7 Arizona metro areas for this job; Phoenix pays the most ($62,120).
- Phoenix$62,120
- Flagstaff$61,720
- Prescott Valley$57,730
- Tucson$56,750
- Yuma$54,300
- Lake Havasu City$47,620
- Sierra Vista$46,950
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Tucson: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Tucson?
$27.28 an hour on average, and $24.04 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Tucson?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,760 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Tucson?
About $46,754 a year ($3,896 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $56,750.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Tucson than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
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 35-1011; area Tucson, AZ (46060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.6%.
- 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 1.16, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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