Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Tampa, FL

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

Median annual salary $36,620 -0.6% vs national
Median hourly $17.61
10th percentile $29,680
90th percentile $43,620
Employed locally 18,760
National median $36,830

Compare Cooks, Restaurant salary & buying power

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Cooks, Restaurant
in
Tampa, FL
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $29,680
    25th
    $31,520
    50th (median)
    $36,620
    75th
    $37,660
    90th
    $43,620

    Tampa economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $71,254 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 51% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 49% below the area median household income

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Tampa, FL is $17.61, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.48 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Tampa, FL is 0.6% 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 Tampa?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $29,680 per year in Tampa, FL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $31,520.