Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach

In Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach (FL), the median pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria is $17.54 an hour ($36,480 a year). About 6,220 people work in this job there.

$17.54Median hourly pay
$34,190–$40,880Middle half of workers, yearly
6,220People in this job in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach (FL)

That is 3% lower than the U.S. median ($37,450). It is about the same as the Florida median ($36,250).

Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach (FL)

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$16.43$34,180
25% of workers$16.44$34,190
Half of workers (median)$17.54$36,480
75% of workers$19.65$40,880
90% of workers$22.45$46,690

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Florida metro areas

Metro areaMedian yearly payPeople in this job
Naples-Marco Island$43,890440
Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor$38,730160
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota$37,6201,030
Sebring$37,380130
Punta Gorda$37,200140
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin$37,190180
Port St. Lucie$37,070370
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford$36,9703,780
Homosassa Springs$36,710190
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville$36,510420
Jacksonville$36,4901,770
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach (this page)$36,4806,220
Gainesville$36,400330
Lakeland-Winter Haven$36,2501,580
Wildwood-The Villages$35,940160
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent$35,890390
Panama City-Panama City Beach$35,680170
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach$35,610680
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater$35,0404,220
Cape Coral-Fort Myers$34,8101,080
Tallahassee$34,710370
Ocala$33,410340

Florida unemployment rate: 4.5% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Education, experience and outlook for cooks, institution and cafeteria

  • Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
  • Related work experience most have: 1 to 3 months (O*NET)
  • Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
  • Job outlook: +2.8% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 62,900 openings a year (BLS)

Related jobs in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach (FL)

JobMedian yearly pay
Fast Food and Counter Workers$29,600
Cooks, Restaurant$36,920
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$45,500
Food Preparation Workers$36,090
Chefs and Head Cooks$57,940
Cooks, Fast Food$30,990
Food Service Managers$81,170
Bakers$36,880

Other job titles for this job

Food Service SpecialistCulinary SpecialistSous ChefBoarding House CookCafeteria CookCamp CookDietary CookDinner CookGalley CookInstitutional CookKitchen CookMess Cook

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Source: 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.