Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Florida
In Florida, the median pay for chefs and head cooks is $28.00 an hour ($58,240 a year). About 19,670 people work in this job there.
That is 7% lower than the U.S. median ($62,470). Florida ranks 38th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Florida
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $15.35 | $31,920 |
| 25% of workers | $21.00 | $43,680 |
| Half of workers (median) | $28.00 | $58,240 |
| 75% of workers | $36.46 | $75,840 |
| 90% of workers | $44.38 | $92,300 |
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Florida metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island | $68,830 | 640 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $61,390 | 2,360 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | $60,180 | 880 |
| Wildwood-The Villages | $59,510 | 130 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $58,240 | 1,720 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $57,940 | 8,210 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | $56,830 | 380 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | $56,220 | 660 |
| Port St. Lucie | $56,130 | 340 |
| Ocala | $55,540 | 120 |
| Jacksonville | $55,060 | 1,230 |
| Punta Gorda | $54,340 | 160 |
| Tallahassee | $53,060 | 220 |
| Sebring | $52,760 | 40 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | $52,110 | 330 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven | $50,720 | 280 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | $50,220 | 270 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor | $49,660 | 200 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | $48,710 | 280 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach | $47,540 | 200 |
| Gainesville | $47,380 | 250 |
| Homosassa Springs | $41,680 | 70 |
Florida unemployment rate: 4.5% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for chefs and head cooks
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: 5 years or more (BLS)
- Job outlook: +6.6% over ten years, faster than average · about 25,200 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Florida
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,150 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,020 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,470 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,250 |
| Food Service Managers | $72,790 |
| Bakers | $35,870 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,240 |
| Food Batchmakers | $35,500 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.