Cooks, Restaurant pay in Lakeland-Winter Haven
In Lakeland-Winter Haven (FL), the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $17.12 an hour ($35,600 a year). About 2,080 people work in this job there.
That is 5% lower than the U.S. median ($37,390). It is 4% lower than the Florida median ($37,020).
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Lakeland-Winter Haven (FL)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $13.90 | $28,900 |
| 25% of workers | $15.23 | $31,680 |
| Half of workers (median) | $17.12 | $35,600 |
| 75% of workers | $17.94 | $37,320 |
| 90% of workers | $21.29 | $44,290 |
Cooks, Restaurant pay in Florida metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island | $41,220 | 3,650 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $37,970 | 19,960 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | $37,440 | 4,780 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | $37,240 | 4,330 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $37,010 | 18,640 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $36,920 | 37,210 |
| Jacksonville | $36,770 | 7,770 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | $36,750 | 2,890 |
| Punta Gorda | $36,730 | 990 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | $36,600 | 2,400 |
| Port St. Lucie | $36,540 | 2,240 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor | $36,490 | 870 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | $36,350 | 3,280 |
| Wildwood-The Villages | $35,920 | 560 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | $35,800 | 2,260 |
| Gainesville | $35,760 | 1,320 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach | $35,720 | 1,310 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven (this page) | $35,600 | 2,080 |
| Ocala | $35,500 | 1,260 |
| Homosassa Springs | $34,720 | 530 |
| Tallahassee | $34,610 | 1,520 |
| Sebring | $34,530 | 300 |
Florida unemployment rate: 4.5% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for cooks, restaurant
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 3 to 6 months (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +12.1% over ten years, much faster than average · about 218,600 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Lakeland-Winter Haven (FL)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Food Preparation Workers | $34,610 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,250 |
Other job titles for this job
Open cooks, restaurant jobs on JAI Bot
No open jobs in this field right now. Search all jobs or set up a free job alert.
Hiring cooks, restaurant? Use the free hiring guide for a job description and interview questions, then post the job on JAI Bot. Every job shows typical pay to job seekers.
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.