Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Florida
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Florida earn a median of $36,250 a year ($17.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 25,100 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,520 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $37,450. Florida ranks 34th of 51 states for cooks, institution and cafeteria pay. There are 2.5 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $38,170, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Florida
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,650 | $15.22 |
| 25th percentile | $34,480 | $16.58 |
| Median | $36,250 | $17.43 |
| 75th percentile | $39,840 | $19.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,520 | $22.36 |
| Average (mean) | $38,170 | $18.35 |
Half of cooks, institution and cafeteria 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 | $3,020.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,510.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,394.23 |
| Weekly | $697.12 |
| Hourly | $17.43 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in cities in Florida
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $43,890 | 440 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $38,730 | 160 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $37,620 | 1,030 |
| Sebring, FL | $37,380 | 130 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | $37,200 | 140 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $37,190 | 180 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $37,070 | 370 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $36,970 | 3,780 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | $36,710 | 190 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $36,510 | 420 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $36,490 | 1,770 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $36,480 | 6,220 |
| Gainesville, FL | $36,400 | 330 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $36,250 | 1,580 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $35,940 | 160 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $35,890 | 390 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $35,680 | 170 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $35,610 | 680 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $35,040 | 4,220 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $34,810 | 1,080 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $34,710 | 370 |
| Ocala, FL | $33,410 | 340 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 |
| Alaska | $48,580 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 |
| California | $46,390 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,880 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 |
Related jobs in Florida
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,020 | $17.80 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,920 | $17.27 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,900 | $14.37 |
| 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 35-2012. 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, institution and cafeteria make in Florida?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Florida is $36,250 a year, or $17.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,520 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Florida?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Florida earn at least $46,520 a year. The top 25% earn $39,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Florida?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,650 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $34,480 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in Florida?
About 25,100 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in Florida, not counting the self-employed.