Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Lakeland, FL

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

Median annual salary $35,300 -4.2% vs national
Median hourly $16.97
10th percentile $27,600
90th percentile $43,240
Employed locally 2,280
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Lakeland, FL
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $27,600
    25th
    $29,320
    50th (median)
    $35,300
    75th
    $36,490
    90th
    $43,240

    Lakeland economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $63,644 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 55% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 45% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Naples-Marco Island, FL $39,270
    Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $37,480
    South Florida nonmetropolitan area $36,990
    North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $36,990
    Flagstaff, AZ $36,830
    Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $36,670

    Related occupations in Lakeland, FL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,280
    Waiters and Waitresses $28,900
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $36,800
    Food Preparation Workers $33,390
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $37,310
    Bartenders $28,260

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Lakeland?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Lakeland, FL is $16.97, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.29 or more per hour.

    Is Lakeland above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Lakeland, FL is 4.2% below the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

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

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $27,600 per year in Lakeland, FL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,320.