Cooks, Restaurant salary in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
Cooks, Restaurant in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area earn a median of $35,600 a year ($17.12 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,080 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,290 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 4% lower than the Florida statewide median of $37,020. There are 7.8 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $35,960, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,900 | $13.90 |
| 25th percentile | $31,680 | $15.23 |
| Median | $35,600 | $17.12 |
| 75th percentile | $37,320 | $17.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,290 | $21.29 |
| Average (mean) | $35,960 | $17.29 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $2,966.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,483.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,369.23 |
| Weekly | $684.62 |
| Hourly | $17.12 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $35,600 salary, see how much house you can afford in Florida at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $41,220 | 3,650 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $37,970 | 19,960 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $37,440 | 4,780 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $37,240 | 4,330 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $37,010 | 18,640 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $36,920 | 37,210 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $36,770 | 7,770 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $36,750 | 2,890 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | $36,730 | 990 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $36,600 | 2,400 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $36,540 | 2,240 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $36,490 | 870 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $36,350 | 3,280 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $35,920 | 560 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $35,800 | 2,260 |
| Gainesville, FL | $35,760 | 1,320 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $35,720 | 1,310 |
| Ocala, FL | $35,500 | 1,260 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | $34,720 | 530 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $34,610 | 1,520 |
| Sebring, FL | $34,530 | 300 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Florida statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,610 | $16.64 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,250 | $17.43 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,320 | $16.98 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,050 | $13.49 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,270 | $16.96 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,220 | $20.78 |
| Bartender | $33,920 | $16.31 |
| Dishwasher | $29,190 | $14.03 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,140 | $14.01 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,500 | $13.70 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,670 | $16.19 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $50,720 | $24.39 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $34,930 | $16.79 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2014. 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 cooks, restaurant make in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area is $35,600 a year, or $17.12 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,290 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area earn at least $44,290 a year. The top 25% earn $37,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,900 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $31,680 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
About 2,080 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area, not counting the self-employed.