Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Ocala, FL

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Ocala, FL

Median annual salary $34,730 -5.7% vs national
Median hourly $16.70
10th percentile $27,720
90th percentile $42,490
Employed locally 1,300
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
in
Ocala, FL
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $27,720
    25th
    $29,000
    50th (median)
    $34,730
    75th
    $35,900
    90th
    $42,490

    Ocala economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $58,535 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 59% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 41% 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 Ocala, FL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,130
    Waiters and Waitresses $28,130
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,080
    Food Preparation Workers $33,280
    Bartenders $28,980
    Dishwashers $27,930

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Ocala, FL is $16.70, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.10 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Ocala, FL is 5.7% 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 Ocala?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $27,720 per year in Ocala, FL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,000.