SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — Wildwood
Wildwood-The Villages, FL · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage here is $35,410 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $35,320.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $35,410 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $35,320. Half of workers earn between $30,470 and $37,380. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $27,780 and the ninetieth at $39,660.
The area has 500 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 12.1 of every thousand jobs. Naples leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $38,190. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 168th of 192 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,780 | −21.3% |
| 25th | $30,470 | −13.7% |
| Median (50th) | $35,410 | +0.3% |
| 75th | $37,380 | +5.8% |
| 90th | $39,660 | +12.3% |
| Mean | $34,380 | −2.7% |
Other metro areas in Florida
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naples | $38,190 | 1,610 | |
| 2 | North Port | $37,320 | 3,480 | |
| 3 | Port St. Lucie | $37,000 | 1,590 | |
| 4 | Jacksonville | $36,730 | 4,630 | |
| 5 | Crestview | $36,680 | 1,050 | |
| 6 | Cape Coral | $36,560 | 2,460 | |
| 7 | Tampa | $36,330 | 10,150 | |
| 8 | Punta Gorda | $36,310 | 760 | |
| 9 | Miami | $36,090 | 19,630 | |
| 10 | Palm Bay | $35,870 | 2,050 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Wildwood run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $35,410 buys what $34,246 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 3.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$35,410as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$34,246US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $35,410 a year, 0.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $27,780 to $39,660 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 500 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Naples, at $38,190.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Wildwood, FL?
The median annual wage is $35,410, or $17.02 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 $35,320, so pay in Wildwood, FL is 0.3% higher. 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 Wildwood, FL earns more than $39,660 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $27,780 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 $38,190 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 500 jobs in this occupation in Wildwood, 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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