Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Lakeland, FL

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

Median annual salary $37,310 +2.4% vs national
Median hourly $17.94
10th percentile $26,990
90th percentile $49,170
Employed locally 1,240
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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Lakeland, FL
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $26,990
    25th
    $32,400
    50th (median)
    $37,310
    75th
    $39,520
    90th
    $49,170

    Lakeland economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $63,644 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 59% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 41% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $54,840
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,290
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $50,150
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,850
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    Washington $48,260

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Flagstaff, AZ $41,240
    Naples-Marco Island, FL $40,880
    Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL $37,440
    Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL $36,970
    Sebring, FL $36,710
    South Florida nonmetropolitan area $36,690

    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
    Bartenders $28,260

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make per hour in Lakeland?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Lakeland, FL is $17.94, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.29 or more per hour.

    Is Lakeland above or below average for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries?

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Lakeland, FL is 2.4% above the national median of $36,450. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Lakeland?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $26,990 per year in Lakeland, FL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $32,400.