Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Tampa, FL
Cooks, Restaurant in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area earn a median $37,010 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,918 take-home, or $2,660 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Tampa, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,261
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,295
- Medicare (1.45%)$537
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$31,918
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 Tampa, FL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,700 | $13.80 | $25,240 | $2,103 |
| 25th percentile | $35,280 | $16.96 | $30,527 | $2,544 |
| Median (50th) | $37,010 | $17.79 | $31,918 | $2,660 |
| 75th percentile | $41,380 | $19.89 | $35,429 | $2,952 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,670 | $21.48 | $38,072 | $3,173 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,010 buys in Tampa, FL
Prices in Tampa, FL are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.26× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $31,918 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,636 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Tampa, FL has 1.4× the national concentration of cooks, restaurant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Tampa, FL ranks #59 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 |
| 59 | Tampa, FL | $37,010 | $31,918 | $31,636 |
*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
- Jacksonville, FL — $36,770
- Palm Bay, FL — $36,750
- 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 Tampa, FL?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area is $37,010 a year, or about $17.79 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,280 and $41,380.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Tampa, FL?
On the median $37,010 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $31,918 a year ($2,660 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Tampa, FL a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,636 would in a typical U.S. city. Tampa, FL ranks #59 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Tampa, FL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Tampa, FL is $1,696 a month ($1,977 for two bedrooms) — 64% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Tampa, FL
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,240
- Bartender — $37,460
- Waiter and Waitress — $37,070
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,330
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,040
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,480
- Dishwasher — $31,670
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $31,150
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,880
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,260