Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Gainesville, FL

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Gainesville, FL

Median annual salary $46,370 -24% vs national
Median hourly $22.29
10th percentile $28,070
90th percentile $80,680
Employed locally 160
National median $60,990

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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Gainesville, FL
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $28,070
    25th
    $31,730
    50th (median)
    $46,370
    75th
    $69,370
    90th
    $80,680

    Gainesville economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $58,946 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 79% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 21% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Naples-Marco Island, FL $74,990
    South Florida nonmetropolitan area $69,570
    Wildwood-The Villages, FL $65,290
    Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $62,040
    Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $61,600
    Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $61,270

    Related occupations in Gainesville, FL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,580
    Waiters and Waitresses $28,720
    Cooks, Restaurant $35,130
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $38,530
    Food Preparation Workers $33,860
    Bartenders $29,870

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Gainesville?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Gainesville, FL is $22.29, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $38.00 or more per hour.

    Is Gainesville above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Gainesville, FL is 24% below the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Gainesville?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $28,070 per year in Gainesville, FL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $31,730.