SOC 35-2015 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Short Order — Panama City
Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Panama City, FL is $31,840 per year, 11.3% below the national median of $35,880.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Panama City, FL is $31,840 per year, 11.3% below the national median of $35,880. Half of workers earn between $31,640 and $33,830. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $31,580 and the ninetieth at $36,080.
The area has 70 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.8 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Naples records the highest median at $35,660. Of the 302 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 284th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,580 | −12.0% |
| 25th | $31,640 | −11.8% |
| Median (50th) | $31,840 | −11.3% |
| 75th | $33,830 | −5.7% |
| 90th | $36,080 | +0.6% |
| Mean | $33,020 | −8.0% |
Other metro areas in Florida
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naples | $35,660 | 150 | |
| 2 | Lakeland | $35,320 | — | |
| 3 | Cape Coral | $34,810 | 130 | |
| 4 | Tampa | $34,740 | 1,170 | |
| 5 | North Port | $34,650 | 210 | |
| 6 | Miami | $34,570 | 880 | |
| 7 | Palm Bay | $34,270 | 130 | |
| 8 | Port St. Lucie | $33,620 | 100 | |
| 9 | Pensacola | $33,280 | 110 | |
| 10 | Orlando | $33,260 | — |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Panama City run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $31,840 buys what $30,793 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 14.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$31,840as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$30,793US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $31,840 a year, 11.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,580 to $36,080 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 70 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Naples, at $35,660.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Panama City, FL?
The median annual wage is $31,840, or $15.31 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 $35,880, so pay in Panama City, FL is 11.3% 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 $36,080 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,580 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 $35,660 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 70 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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