Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Lakeland, FL
Cooks, Restaurant in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area earn a median $35,600 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,785 take-home, or $2,565 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Lakeland, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,092
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,207
- Medicare (1.45%)$516
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$30,785
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Lakeland, FL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,900 | $13.89 | $25,401 | $2,117 |
| 25th percentile | $31,680 | $15.23 | $27,635 | $2,303 |
| Median (50th) | $35,600 | $17.12 | $30,785 | $2,565 |
| 75th percentile | $37,320 | $17.94 | $32,167 | $2,681 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,290 | $21.29 | $37,767 | $3,147 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,600 buys in Lakeland, FL
Prices in Lakeland, FL are 2.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 4% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $30,785 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,691 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 Lakeland, FL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.86).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Lakeland, FL ranks #178 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 |
| 178 | Lakeland, FL | $35,600 | $30,785 | $31,691 |
*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
- Gainesville, FL — $35,760
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Lakeland, FL?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area is $35,600 a year, or about $17.12 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,680 and $37,320.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Lakeland, FL?
On the median $35,600 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $30,785 a year ($2,565 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Lakeland, FL a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 2.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,691 would in a typical U.S. city. Lakeland, FL ranks #178 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Lakeland, FL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lakeland, FL is $1,230 a month ($1,497 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Lakeland, FL
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $43,220
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,250
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,270
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,610
- Bartender — $33,920
- Dishwasher — $29,190
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,140
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,500
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,050