Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Lakeland, FL

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL

Median annual salary $29,470 -2.3% vs national
Median hourly $14.17
10th percentile $26,500
90th percentile $37,640
Employed locally 520
National median $30,160

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Cooks, Fast Food
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $26,500
    25th
    $27,300
    50th (median)
    $29,470
    75th
    $35,700
    90th
    $37,640

    Lakeland economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $63,644 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 46% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 54% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Fast Food

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,580
    Hawaii $40,300
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Fast Food salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $34,420
    Flagstaff, AZ $33,950
    North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $33,850
    Port St. Lucie, FL $31,530
    Naples-Marco Island, FL $31,410
    Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL $31,040

    Related occupations in Lakeland, FL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,280
    Waiters and Waitresses $28,900
    Cooks, Restaurant $35,300
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $36,800
    Food Preparation Workers $33,390
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $37,310

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in Lakeland?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Lakeland, FL is $14.17, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $18.10 or more per hour.

    Is Lakeland above or below average for Cooks, Fast Food salaries?

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Lakeland, FL is 2.3% below the national median of $30,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Lakeland?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $26,500 per year in Lakeland, FL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $27,300.