SOC 35-9099 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — Lakeland
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL · 10 metro areas compared
At $34,930, median pay for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in Lakeland, FL tracks the national median of $35,840 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $34,930, median pay for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in Lakeland, FL tracks the national median of $35,840 closely. Pay ranges from under $27,040 at the tenth percentile to more than $36,760 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $28,390 to $34,940.
Within the state, Port St. Lucie records the highest median at $36,020. Of the 429 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 390th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,040 | −24.6% |
| 25th | $28,390 | −20.8% |
| Median (50th) | $34,930 | −2.5% |
| 75th | $34,940 | −2.5% |
| 90th | $36,760 | +2.6% |
| Mean | $33,740 | −5.9% |
Other metro areas in Florida
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Port St. Lucie | $36,020 | — | |
| 2 | Orlando | $35,220 | 550 | |
| 3 | Gainesville | $35,140 | 60 | |
| 4 | North Port | $34,100 | — | |
| 5 | Panama City | $33,040 | 70 | |
| 6 | Pensacola | $31,420 | 70 | |
| 7 | Naples | $31,370 | — | |
| 8 | Cape Coral | $31,320 | 130 | |
| 9 | Miami | $31,080 | 1,780 | |
| 10 | Jacksonville | $30,590 | — |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Lakeland run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $34,930 buys what $33,781 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 5.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$34,930as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$33,781US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $34,930 a year, 2.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $27,040 to $36,760 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Port St. Lucie, at $36,020.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in Lakeland, FL?
The median annual wage is $34,930, or $16.79 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 $35,840, so pay in Lakeland, FL is 2.5% 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 Lakeland, FL earns more than $36,760 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $27,040 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 Port St. Lucie, at $36,020 per year.
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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