Food Preparation Worker salary in Punta Gorda, FL
Food Preparation Workers in the Punta Gorda, FL metro area earn a median of $36,310 a year ($17.46 an hour), based on BLS data for 760 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,560 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 1% higher than the Florida statewide median of $35,920. There are 13 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $35,440, close to the median.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Punta Gorda, FL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,170 | $13.54 |
| 25th percentile | $31,530 | $15.16 |
| Median | $36,310 | $17.46 |
| 75th percentile | $37,560 | $18.06 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,560 | $20.46 |
| Average (mean) | $35,440 | $17.04 |
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 | $3,025.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,512.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,396.54 |
| Weekly | $698.27 |
| Hourly | $17.46 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Preparation Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Food Preparation Worker pay in every state or the Florida statewide figures.
Related jobs in Punta Gorda, FL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,730 | $17.66 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,200 | $17.89 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,360 | $17.48 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,100 | $13.99 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,710 | $21.98 |
| Bartender | $35,690 | $17.16 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $32,740 | $15.74 |
| Dishwasher | $30,100 | $14.47 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,170 | $14.02 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $54,340 | $26.13 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Punta Gorda, FL
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 Punta Gorda, FL?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the Punta Gorda, FL metro area is $36,310 a year, or $17.46 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,560 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Punta Gorda, FL?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the Punta Gorda, FL metro area earn at least $42,560 a year. The top 25% earn $37,560 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Punta Gorda, FL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,170 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $31,530 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Punta Gorda, FL?
About 760 food preparation workers are employed in the Punta Gorda, FL metro area, not counting the self-employed.