SOC 51-3093 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders — Florida
Florida · 5 metro areas compared
In Florida the median wage is $36,450.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Florida the median wage is $36,450. That is 12.4% lower than the national median of $41,590. Pay ranges from under $29,800 at the tenth percentile to more than $47,550 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $31,980 to $42,520.
Employment stands at 970, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Florida ranks number 35th out of 41 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Lakeland records the highest median at $39,960. Of the 777 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 694th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,800 | −28.3% |
| 25th | $31,980 | −23.1% |
| Median (50th) | $36,450 | −12.4% |
| 75th | $42,520 | +2.2% |
| 90th | $47,550 | +14.3% |
| Mean | $38,140 | −8.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Florida
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lakeland | $39,960 | 80 | |
| 2 | Jacksonville | $36,890 | 90 | |
| 3 | Orlando | $36,520 | 200 | |
| 4 | Miami | $36,190 | 290 | |
| 5 | Tampa | $35,890 | 160 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Florida run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $36,450 buys what $35,251 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 15.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$36,450as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$35,251US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,450 a year, 12.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $29,800 to $47,550 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 970 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 35th of 41 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Lakeland, at $39,960.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Florida?
The median annual wage is $36,450, or $17.53 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 $41,590, so pay in Florida is 12.4% 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 Florida earns more than $47,550 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $29,800 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 Lakeland, at $39,960 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 970 jobs in this occupation in Florida. 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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