Food Preparation Worker salary in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
Food Preparation Workers in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area earn a median of $34,610 a year ($16.64 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,930 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,200 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 4% lower than the Florida statewide median of $35,920. There are 7.3 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $33,550, close to the median.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,040 | $13.00 |
| 25th percentile | $29,440 | $14.16 |
| Median | $34,610 | $16.64 |
| 75th percentile | $36,300 | $17.45 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,200 | $18.36 |
| Average (mean) | $33,550 | $16.13 |
Half of food preparation workers 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 | $2,884.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,442.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,331.15 |
| Weekly | $665.58 |
| Hourly | $16.64 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $34,610 salary, see how much house you can afford in Florida at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Preparation Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $38,190 | 1,610 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $37,320 | 3,480 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $37,000 | 1,590 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $36,730 | 4,630 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $36,680 | 1,050 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $36,560 | 2,460 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $36,330 | 10,150 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | $36,310 | 760 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $36,090 | 19,630 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $35,870 | 2,050 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $35,600 | 10,300 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $35,600 | 630 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $35,410 | 500 |
| Gainesville, FL | $35,050 | 1,320 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | $34,920 | 430 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $34,880 | 1,680 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $34,850 | 2,540 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $34,770 | 700 |
| Ocala, FL | $34,560 | 960 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $33,760 | 1,570 |
| Sebring, FL | $32,330 | 230 |
Highest-paying states for food preparation workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| California | $39,350 |
| Colorado | $38,960 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 |
| Oregon | $37,450 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 |
| Arizona | $36,750 |
See Food Preparation Worker pay in every state or the Florida statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,600 | $17.12 |
| 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 35-2021. 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 food preparation worker make in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area is $34,610 a year, or $16.64 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,200 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area earn at least $38,200 a year. The top 25% earn $36,300 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,040 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $29,440 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
About 1,930 food preparation workers are employed in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area, not counting the self-employed.