SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Panama City
Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Panama City, FL is $47,540 per year, 23.9% below the national median of $62,470.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Panama City, FL is $47,540 per year, 23.9% below the national median of $62,470. Pay ranges from under $29,120 at the tenth percentile to more than $78,530 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $39,160 to $62,660.
The area has 200 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 2.2 of every thousand jobs. Naples leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $68,830. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 172nd of 302 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,120 | −53.4% |
| 25th | $39,160 | −37.3% |
| Median (50th) | $47,540 | −23.9% |
| 75th | $62,660 | +0.3% |
| 90th | $78,530 | +25.7% |
| Mean | $53,770 | −13.9% |
Other metro areas in Florida
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naples | $68,830 | 640 | |
| 2 | Orlando | $61,390 | 2,360 | |
| 3 | North Port | $60,180 | 880 | |
| 4 | Wildwood | $59,510 | 130 | |
| 5 | Tampa | $58,240 | 1,720 | |
| 6 | Miami | $57,940 | 8,210 | |
| 7 | Crestview | $56,830 | 380 | |
| 8 | Cape Coral | $56,220 | 660 | |
| 9 | Port St. Lucie | $56,130 | 340 | |
| 10 | Ocala | $55,540 | 120 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Panama City run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $47,540 buys what $45,977 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 26.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$47,540as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$45,977US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $47,540 a year, 23.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $29,120 to $78,530 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 200 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Naples, at $68,830.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Panama City, FL?
The median annual wage is $47,540, or $22.86 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $62,470, so pay in Panama City, FL is 23.9% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Panama City, FL earns more than $78,530 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $29,120 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Naples, at $68,830 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 200 jobs in this occupation in Panama City, FL. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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