SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Tallahassee
Tallahassee, FL · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Tallahassee, FL is $53,060 per year, 15.1% 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 Tallahassee, FL is $53,060 per year, 15.1% below the national median of $62,470. Half of workers earn between $41,450 and $69,190. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $33,870 and the ninetieth at $80,080.
Employment stands at 220, or 1.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Naples records the highest median at $68,830. Of the 380 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 190th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $33,870 | −45.8% |
| 25th | $41,450 | −33.6% |
| Median (50th) | $53,060 | −15.1% |
| 75th | $69,190 | +10.8% |
| 90th | $80,080 | +28.2% |
| Mean | $56,820 | −9.0% |
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 Tallahassee run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $53,060 buys what $51,315 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 17.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$53,060as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$51,315US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $53,060 a year, 15.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $33,870 to $80,080 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 220 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 Tallahassee, FL?
The median annual wage is $53,060, or $25.51 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 Tallahassee, FL is 15.1% 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 Tallahassee, FL earns more than $80,080 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $33,870 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 220 jobs in this occupation in Tallahassee, 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.
Explore related data