SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Tampa
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage here is $37,010 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $37,390.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $37,010 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $37,390. Half of workers earn between $35,280 and $41,380. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $28,700 and the ninetieth at $44,670.
The area has 18,640 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.42 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Naples leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $41,220. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 552nd of 629 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,700 | −23.2% |
| 25th | $35,280 | −5.6% |
| Median (50th) | $37,010 | −1.0% |
| 75th | $41,380 | +10.7% |
| 90th | $44,670 | +19.5% |
| Mean | $37,560 | +0.5% |
Other metro areas in Florida
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naples | $41,220 | 3,650 | |
| 2 | Orlando | $37,970 | 19,960 | |
| 3 | North Port | $37,440 | 4,780 | |
| 4 | Cape Coral | $37,240 | 4,330 | |
| 5 | Miami | $36,920 | 37,210 | |
| 6 | Jacksonville | $36,770 | 7,770 | |
| 7 | Palm Bay | $36,750 | 2,890 | |
| 8 | Punta Gorda | $36,730 | 990 | |
| 9 | Crestview | $36,600 | 2,400 | |
| 10 | Port St. Lucie | $36,540 | 2,240 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tampa run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $37,010 buys what $35,793 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 4.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$37,010as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$35,793US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $37,010 a year, 1.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $28,700 to $44,670 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 18,640 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Naples, at $41,220.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Tampa, FL?
The median annual wage is $37,010, or $17.79 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 $37,390, so pay in Tampa, FL is 1.0% 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 Tampa, FL earns more than $44,670 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $28,700 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 $41,220 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 18,640 jobs in this occupation in Tampa, 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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