Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Gainesville, FL
Cooks, Restaurant in the Gainesville, FL metro area earn a median $35,760 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,913 take-home, or $2,576 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Gainesville, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,111
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,217
- Medicare (1.45%)$519
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$30,913
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Gainesville, FL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,490 | $14.18 | $25,875 | $2,156 |
| 25th percentile | $34,630 | $16.65 | $30,005 | $2,500 |
| Median (50th) | $35,760 | $17.19 | $30,913 | $2,576 |
| 75th percentile | $37,310 | $17.94 | $32,159 | $2,680 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,630 | $21.46 | $38,040 | $3,170 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,760 buys in Gainesville, FL
Prices in Gainesville, FL are 3.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 7% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $30,913 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,957 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 Gainesville, FL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Gainesville, FL ranks #158 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
| 158 | Gainesville, FL | $35,760 | $30,913 | $31,957 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Florida
- Wildwood, FL — $35,920
- Naples, FL — $41,220
- Crestview, FL — $36,600
- Ocala, FL — $35,500
- Orlando, FL — $37,970
- Homosassa Springs, FL — $34,720
- Sebastian, FL — $36,490
- Tallahassee, FL — $34,610
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Gainesville, FL?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Gainesville, FL metro area is $35,760 a year, or about $17.19 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,630 and $37,310.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Gainesville, FL?
On the median $35,760 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $30,913 a year ($2,576 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Gainesville, FL a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 3.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,957 would in a typical U.S. city. Gainesville, FL ranks #158 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Gainesville, FL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Gainesville, FL is $1,193 a month ($1,427 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Gainesville, FL
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $40,040
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,400
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,050
- Bartender — $35,050
- Dishwasher — $29,490
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,970
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,280