Food Preparation Workers Salary in Arizona

Food preparation workers in Arizona earn the most in Phoenix (average $38,500 a year) and the least in Sierra Vista ($34,050), across the 7 Arizona metro areas we cover. Statewide, BLS puts the food preparation workers average at $37,810 and the median at $36,750 for 16,590 workers. The U.S. average for this job is $35,290.

Food Preparation Workers average salary by city in Arizona

Phoenix$38,500
Flagstaff$38,030
Prescott Valley$36,380
Tucson$35,990
Yuma$35,430
Lake Havasu City$35,220
Sierra Vista$34,050

Pay, take-home pay and cost of living

City	Average	Median	25th pct.	Take-home*	Cost of living
Phoenix	$38,500	$37,580	$34,600	$32,546	103
Flagstaff	$38,030	$37,710	$34,840	$32,180	100
Prescott Valley	$36,380	$35,090	$32,540	$30,896	98
Tucson	$35,990	$35,260	$31,870	$30,592	97
Yuma	$35,430	$35,390	$31,650	$30,156	93
Lake Havasu City	$35,220	$35,180	$33,810	$29,993	94
Sierra Vista	$34,050	$33,610	$31,670	$29,082	89

*Average salary after federal and state taxes for a single filer. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.

Food Preparation Workers salary in other states

Food Preparation Workers salary by city and state

More about pay in Arizona

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 35-2021.
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.

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