Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Jacksonville, FL
Cooks, Restaurant in the Jacksonville, FL metro area earn a median $36,770 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,725 take-home, or $2,644 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Jacksonville, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,232
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,280
- Medicare (1.45%)$533
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$31,725
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Jacksonville, FL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,320 | $14.58 | $26,542 | $2,212 |
| 25th percentile | $34,820 | $16.74 | $30,158 | $2,513 |
| Median (50th) | $36,770 | $17.68 | $31,725 | $2,644 |
| 75th percentile | $38,430 | $18.48 | $33,059 | $2,755 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,040 | $21.65 | $38,370 | $3,197 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,770 buys in Jacksonville, FL
Prices in Jacksonville, FL are 0.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.10× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $31,725 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,889 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Jacksonville, FL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.12).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Jacksonville, FL ranks #50 of 101 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $46,560 | $37,630 | $36,943 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $47,730 | $40,531 | $36,471 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $47,170 | $38,588 | $34,946 |
| 5 | Worcester, MA | $44,250 | $35,742 | $34,863 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $44,370 | $36,587 | $34,588 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $37,840 | $31,742 | $34,536 |
| 8 | Atlantic City, NJ | $40,250 | $33,830 | $34,221 |
| 50 | Jacksonville, FL | $36,770 | $31,725 | $31,889 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 101 metros →
About the job: cooks, restaurant
Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Florida
- Naples, FL — $41,220
- Crestview, FL — $36,600
- Orlando, FL — $37,970
- Palm Bay, FL — $36,750
- Tampa, FL — $37,010
- Deltona, FL — $36,350
- North Port, FL — $37,440
- Cape Coral, FL — $37,240
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Jacksonville, FL?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Jacksonville, FL metro area is $36,770 a year, or about $17.68 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,820 and $38,430.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Jacksonville, FL?
On the median $36,770 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $31,725 a year ($2,644 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Jacksonville, FL a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 0.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,889 would in a typical U.S. city. Jacksonville, FL ranks #50 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Jacksonville, FL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Jacksonville, FL is $1,374 a month ($1,648 for two bedrooms) — 52% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Jacksonville, FL
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,430
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,730
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,630
- Bartender — $35,450
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,290
- Dishwasher — $32,150
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,440
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,470