Food Preparation Workers Salary in Arizona
Food Preparation Workers in Arizona earn a median annual wage of $36,750 —4.0% above the national median of $35,320. That ranks AZ #10 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.
Wage distribution
How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
Employment concentration (0.89×) is close to the national average.
Highest-paying states for food preparation workers
All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Arizona is highlighted.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $40,910 | $19.67 | 19,510 | 0.96 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $39,600 | $19.04 | 3,970 | 0.98 |
| 3 | California | $39,350 | $18.92 | 112,750 | 1.08 |
| 4 | Colorado | $38,960 | $18.73 | 12,080 | 0.73 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $38,900 | $18.70 | 13,620 | 0.65 |
| 6 | Hawaii | $38,160 | $18.35 | 5,950 | 1.65 |
| 7 | Oregon | $37,450 | $18.00 | 11,860 | 1.05 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $36,800 | $17.69 | 980 | 0.40 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $36,780 | $17.68 | 3,420 | 0.87 |
| 10 | Arizona | $36,750 | $17.67 | 16,590 | 0.89 |
Related occupations in Arizona
Occupations in the same job family, compared within Arizona.
| Occupation | Arizona median | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,230 | $31,200 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $43,950 | $35,230 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,670 | $37,390 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $40,550 | $44,080 |
| Bartenders | $45,070 | $34,340 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $32,660 | $30,890 |
Frequently asked questions
How much do food preparation workers make in Arizona?
The median annual wage for food preparation workers in Arizona is $36,750, or $17.67 per hour. That is 4.0% above the national median of $35,320.
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Arizona?
Workers at the 10th percentile earn $31,300 per year ($15.05/hour). The 25th percentile is $34,220.
How many people work as food preparation workers in Arizona?
About 16,590 people work in this occupation in Arizona, or 5.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.
Is Arizona a good state for food preparation workers?
Arizona ranks #10 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (0.89x) is close to the national average.
Which state pays food preparation workers the most?
Washington has the highest median wage at $40,910 per year, followed by District of Columbia ($39,600) and California ($39,350).