Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Pensacola, FL

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL

Median annual salary $35,270 -4.2% vs national
Median hourly $16.96
10th percentile $27,800
90th percentile $42,710
Employed locally 2,520
National median $36,830

Compare Cooks, Restaurant salary & buying power

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

Full tool →
Cooks, Restaurant
in
Pensacola, FL
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $27,800
    25th
    $29,370
    50th (median)
    $35,270
    75th
    $36,510
    90th
    $42,710

    Pensacola economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $73,588 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 48% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 52% 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 Pensacola, FL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,410
    Waiters and Waitresses $28,440
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,510
    Food Preparation Workers $33,740
    Bartenders $29,620
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $28,270

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Pensacola, FL is $16.96, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.45 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Pensacola, 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 Pensacola?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $27,800 per year in Pensacola, FL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,370.