SOC 35-9099 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — South Florida
South Florida nonmetropolitan area · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in South Florida, FL is $27,560 a year, trailing the national median of $35,840 by 23.1%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in South Florida, FL is $27,560 a year, trailing the national median of $35,840 by 23.1%. Half of workers earn between $27,040 and $40,760. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $27,040 and the ninetieth at $40,760.
The area has 40 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.92 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Port St. Lucie leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $36,020. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 284th of 284 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,040 | −24.6% |
| 25th | $27,040 | −24.6% |
| Median (50th) | $27,560 | −23.1% |
| 75th | $40,760 | +13.7% |
| 90th | $40,760 | +13.7% |
| Mean | $31,920 | −10.9% |
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 | Lakeland | $34,930 | — | |
| 5 | North Port | $34,100 | — | |
| 6 | Panama City | $33,040 | 70 | |
| 7 | Pensacola | $31,420 | 70 | |
| 8 | Naples | $31,370 | — | |
| 9 | Cape Coral | $31,320 | 130 | |
| 10 | Miami | $31,080 | 1,780 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in South Florida run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $27,560 buys what $26,654 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 25.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$27,560as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$26,654US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $27,560 a year, 23.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $27,040 to $40,760 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 40 jobs in this occupation.
- 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 South Florida, FL?
The median annual wage is $27,560, or $13.25 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 South Florida, FL is 23.1% 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 South Florida, FL earns more than $40,760 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.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 40 jobs in this occupation in South Florida, 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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