Cooks, Short Order salary in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
Cooks, Short Order in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area earn a median of $35,320 a year ($16.98 an hour), based on BLS data for this job.
Pay ranges from $31,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $35,320 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 3% higher than the Florida statewide median of $34,240. The average (mean) salary is $34,010, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| 25th percentile | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| Median | $35,320 | $16.98 |
| 75th percentile | $35,320 | $16.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,320 | $16.98 |
| Average (mean) | $34,010 | $16.35 |
Half of cooks, short order 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 | $2,943.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,471.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,358.46 |
| Weekly | $679.23 |
| Hourly | $16.98 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Short Order salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $35,660 | 150 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $34,810 | 130 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $34,740 | 1,170 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $34,650 | 210 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $34,570 | 880 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $34,270 | 130 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $33,620 | 100 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $33,280 | 110 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $33,260 | n/a |
| Gainesville, FL | $33,220 | 130 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $32,620 | 200 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $31,840 | 70 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $31,300 | 140 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
See Cooks, Short Order pay in every state or the Florida statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,600 | $17.12 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,610 | $16.64 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,250 | $17.43 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,050 | $13.49 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,270 | $16.96 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,220 | $20.78 |
| Bartender | $33,920 | $16.31 |
| Dishwasher | $29,190 | $14.03 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,140 | $14.01 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,500 | $13.70 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,670 | $16.19 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $50,720 | $24.39 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $34,930 | $16.79 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2015. 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, short order make in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area is $35,320 a year, or $16.98 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $35,320 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area earn at least $35,320 a year. The top 25% earn $35,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,840 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $31,840 or less.