Cook, Restaurant Salary in Florida (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Cooks, Restaurant in Florida, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Florida Median
$37,020
per year
Hourly Rate
$17.80
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-1% vs US median
US median $37,390
State Rank
#23 of 51
124,040 employed here

How much does a Cook, Restaurant make in Florida?

A Cook, Restaurant working in Florida earns a median salary of $37,020 per year, or about $17.80 per hour. That is 1% below the national median of $37,390 for this occupation.

Within Florida, entry-level pay starts around $29,710 while the top 10% make $46,450 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $35,050 and $42,850 a year.

Cook, Restaurant salary range in Florida

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$29,710$14.28
25th percentile (early career)$35,050$16.85
50th percentile (median)$37,020$17.80
75th percentile (experienced)$42,850$20.60
90th percentile (top earners)$46,450$22.33

How Florida compares

Florida ranks 23rd out of 51 states and territories for Cook, Restaurant pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1Washington$46,800
2District of Columbia$46,130
3Massachusetts$45,600
4Hawaii$45,420
5Vermont$45,390

Working as a Cook, Restaurant in Florida

Nationally, about 1,410,000 people work as Cooks, Restaurant in the United States. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.

Considering a move? Compare Florida pay ($37,020) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Cook, Restaurant make in Florida?
The median Cook, Restaurant salary in Florida is $37,020 per year, or about $17.80 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $29,710 at the entry level to $46,450 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Florida pay compare to the national average?
Florida pays Cooks, Restaurant about 1% less than the national median of $37,390. Florida ranks 23rd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Florida a good state for Cooks, Restaurant?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $37,020 a year. About 124,040 Cooks, Restaurant are employed in Florida. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Florida?
The highest-paying occupations in Florida include Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric ($473,750), Anesthesiologist ($465,370), Surgeon, All Other ($429,990), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.

← See the national Cook, Restaurant salary report

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.