Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Pensacola, FL

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL

Median annual salary $49,780 -18.4% vs national
Median hourly $23.94
10th percentile $30,420
90th percentile $90,000
Employed locally 230
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Pensacola, FL stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Chefs and Head Cooks
in
Pensacola, FL
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $30,420
    25th
    $38,210
    50th (median)
    $49,780
    75th
    $71,280
    90th
    $90,000

    Pensacola economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $73,588 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 68% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 32% 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 Pensacola, FL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,410
    Waiters and Waitresses $28,440
    Cooks, Restaurant $35,270
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,510
    Food Preparation Workers $33,740
    Bartenders $29,620

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Pensacola, FL is $23.94, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $38.24 or more per hour.

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

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Pensacola, FL is 18.4% 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 Pensacola?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $30,420 per year in Pensacola, FL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $38,210.