Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL metro area earn a median of $56,830 a year ($27.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 380 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,730 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 2% lower than the Florida statewide median of $58,240. There are 3.0 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $59,240, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,720 | $17.17 |
| 25th percentile | $44,710 | $21.49 |
| Median | $56,830 | $27.32 |
| 75th percentile | $69,710 | $33.52 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,730 | $40.74 |
| Average (mean) | $59,240 | $28.48 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,735.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,367.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,185.77 |
| Weekly | $1,092.88 |
| Hourly | $27.32 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $56,830 salary, see how much house you can afford in Florida at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $68,830 | 640 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $61,390 | 2,360 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $60,180 | 880 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $59,510 | 130 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $58,240 | 1,720 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $57,940 | 8,210 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $56,220 | 660 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $56,130 | 340 |
| Ocala, FL | $55,540 | 120 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $55,060 | 1,230 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | $54,340 | 160 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $53,060 | 220 |
| Sebring, FL | $52,760 | 40 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $52,110 | 330 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $50,720 | 280 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $50,220 | 270 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $49,660 | 200 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $48,710 | 280 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $47,540 | 200 |
| Gainesville, FL | $47,380 | 250 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | $41,680 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the Florida statewide figures.
Related jobs in Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $47,340 | $22.76 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $37,370 | $17.96 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,220 | $14.05 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,600 | $17.60 |
| Bartender | $35,570 | $17.10 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,680 | $17.64 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,350 | $15.07 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,890 | $14.37 |
| Dishwasher | $30,470 | $14.65 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,940 | $14.40 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,190 | $17.88 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,060 | $16.37 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL metro area is $56,830 a year, or $27.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,730 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL metro area earn at least $84,730 a year. The top 25% earn $69,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,720 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $44,710 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL?
About 380 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL metro area, not counting the self-employed.