Cooks, Fast Food salary in Florida
Cooks, Fast Food in Florida earn a median of $29,900 a year ($14.37 an hour), based on BLS data for 22,600 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $41,400 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $30,890. Florida ranks 29th of 51 states for cooks, fast food pay. There are 2.3 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.55). The average (mean) salary is $32,230, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Florida
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,460 | $13.20 |
| 25th percentile | $28,210 | $13.56 |
| Median | $29,900 | $14.37 |
| 75th percentile | $36,030 | $17.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $41,400 | $19.90 |
| Average (mean) | $32,230 | $15.50 |
Half of cooks, fast food earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,491.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,245.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,150 |
| Weekly | $575 |
| Hourly | $14.37 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in cities in Florida
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $32,900 | 690 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $31,410 | 290 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $30,990 | 7,110 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $30,300 | 2,000 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $29,940 | 380 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $29,940 | 4,580 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $29,160 | 400 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $28,930 | 670 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $28,410 | 410 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $28,120 | 620 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $28,070 | 130 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $27,600 | 2,240 |
| Ocala, FL | $27,040 | 380 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
Related jobs in Florida
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,020 | $17.80 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,920 | $17.27 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,250 | $17.43 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,240 | $16.46 |
| Cooks, All Other | $39,520 | $19.00 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,080 | $13.98 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,150 | $17.38 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,470 | $21.38 |
| Bartender | $35,150 | $16.90 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $33,280 | $16.00 |
| Dishwasher | $31,240 | $15.02 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,810 | $14.33 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $58,240 | $28.00 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,930 | $16.31 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Florida
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, fast food make in Florida?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in Florida is $29,900 a year, or $14.37 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $41,400 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Florida?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in Florida earn at least $41,400 a year. The top 25% earn $36,030 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Florida?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,460 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $28,210 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Florida?
About 22,600 cooks, fast food are employed in Florida, not counting the self-employed.