Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Tampa, FL

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL

Median annual salary $34,010 -6.7% vs national
Median hourly $16.35
10th percentile $30,750
90th percentile $42,960
Employed locally 4,440
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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

Full tool →
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
in
Tampa, FL
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $30,750
    25th
    $31,460
    50th (median)
    $34,010
    75th
    $37,640
    90th
    $42,960

    Tampa economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $71,254 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 48% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 52% 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
    Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $37,310
    Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL $36,970
    Sebring, FL $36,710

    Related occupations in Tampa, FL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,130
    Waiters and Waitresses $30,820
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,620
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $42,530
    Food Preparation Workers $35,600
    Bartenders $36,140

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Tampa, FL is $16.35, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.54 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Tampa, FL is 6.7% below 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 Tampa?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $30,750 per year in Tampa, FL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $31,460.