Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Palm Bay, FL

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL

Median annual salary $53,630 -12.1% vs national
Median hourly $25.78
10th percentile $31,040
90th percentile $90,080
Employed locally 310
National median $60,990

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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Palm Bay, FL
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $31,040
    25th
    $34,590
    50th (median)
    $53,630
    75th
    $71,770
    90th
    $90,080

    Palm Bay economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $75,817 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 71% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 29% 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 Palm Bay, FL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,960
    Waiters and Waitresses $28,860
    Cooks, Restaurant $35,810
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $38,700
    Food Preparation Workers $31,950
    Bartenders $29,650

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Palm Bay, FL is $25.78, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $38.18 or more per hour.

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

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Palm Bay, FL is 12.1% 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 Palm Bay?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $31,040 per year in Palm Bay, FL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $34,590.