Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Miami, FL
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area earn a median $36,480 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,492 take-home, or $2,624 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Miami, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,198
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,262
- Medicare (1.45%)$529
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$31,492
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay by experience in Miami, FL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,180 | $16.43 | $29,644 | $2,470 |
| 25th percentile | $34,190 | $16.44 | $29,652 | $2,471 |
| Median (50th) | $36,480 | $17.54 | $31,492 | $2,624 |
| 75th percentile | $40,880 | $19.65 | $35,027 | $2,919 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,690 | $22.45 | $39,695 | $3,308 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,480 buys in Miami, FL
Prices in Miami, FL are 14.2% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.56× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, institution and cafeteria's $31,492 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,587 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, Institution and Cafeteria jobs are less concentrated in Miami, FL than nationally (location quotient 0.78), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria, adjusted for cost of living
Miami, FL ranks #36 of 37 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $51,530 | $43,584 | $39,218 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $51,880 | $42,029 | $38,062 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $48,530 | $38,967 | $35,992 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $45,070 | $37,119 | $35,090 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $44,830 | $36,621 | $34,936 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $49,140 | $40,027 | $34,622 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $47,100 | $38,537 | $34,443 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $44,470 | $36,565 | $34,352 |
| 36 | Miami, FL | $36,480 | $31,492 | $27,587 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 37 metros →
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries elsewhere in Florida
- Orlando, FL — $36,970
- Tampa, FL — $35,040
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Miami, FL?
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area is $36,480 a year, or about $17.54 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,190 and $40,880.
What is a cooks, institution and cafeteria’s take-home pay in Miami, FL?
On the median $36,480 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $31,492 a year ($2,624 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Miami, FL a good place to work as a cooks, institution and cafeteria?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $37,450. Local prices are 14.2% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,587 would in a typical U.S. city. Miami, FL ranks #36 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria afford rent in Miami, FL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Miami, FL is $1,942 a month ($2,359 for two bedrooms) — 74% of a median cooks, institution and cafeteria’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Miami, FL
- Chef and Head Cook — $57,940
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,500
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,920
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,090
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,070
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,950
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,710
- Bartender — $34,700
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $32,280
- Dishwasher — $31,480
- Cooks, Fast Food — $30,990
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,600