Food Preparation Worker salary in Florida
Food Preparation Workers in Florida earn a median of $35,920 a year ($17.27 an hour), based on BLS data for 73,100 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,300 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $35,320. Florida ranks 16th of 51 states for food preparation workers pay. There are 7.4 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $35,210, close to the median.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Florida
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,190 | $13.55 |
| 25th percentile | $30,420 | $14.63 |
| Median | $35,920 | $17.27 |
| 75th percentile | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,300 | $20.82 |
| Average (mean) | $35,210 | $16.93 |
Half of food preparation workers 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 | $2,993.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,496.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,381.54 |
| Weekly | $690.77 |
| Hourly | $17.27 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Preparation Worker salary in cities in Florida
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $38,190 | 1,610 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $37,320 | 3,480 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $37,000 | 1,590 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $36,730 | 4,630 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $36,680 | 1,050 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $36,560 | 2,460 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $36,330 | 10,150 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | $36,310 | 760 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $36,090 | 19,630 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $35,870 | 2,050 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $35,600 | 10,300 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $35,600 | 630 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $35,410 | 500 |
| Gainesville, FL | $35,050 | 1,320 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | $34,920 | 430 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $34,880 | 1,680 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $34,850 | 2,540 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $34,770 | 700 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $34,610 | 1,930 |
| Ocala, FL | $34,560 | 960 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $33,760 | 1,570 |
| Sebring, FL | $32,330 | 230 |
Highest-paying states for food preparation workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| California | $39,350 |
| Colorado | $38,960 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 |
| Oregon | $37,450 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 |
| Arizona | $36,750 |
Related jobs in Florida
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,020 | $17.80 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,250 | $17.43 |
| 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 35-2021. 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 food preparation worker make in Florida?
The median salary for food preparation workers in Florida is $35,920 a year, or $17.27 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,300 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Florida?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in Florida earn at least $43,300 a year. The top 25% earn $37,440 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Florida?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,190 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $30,420 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Florida?
About 73,100 food preparation workers are employed in Florida, not counting the self-employed.