Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Miami, FL
Cooks, Restaurant in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area earn a median $36,920 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,845 take-home, or $2,654 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Miami, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,250
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,289
- Medicare (1.45%)$535
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$31,845
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Miami, FL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,090 | $13.99 | $25,554 | $2,129 |
| 25th percentile | $30,780 | $14.80 | $26,912 | $2,243 |
| Median (50th) | $36,920 | $17.75 | $31,845 | $2,654 |
| 75th percentile | $44,060 | $21.18 | $37,582 | $3,132 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,160 | $22.67 | $40,073 | $3,339 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,920 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, restaurant's $31,845 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,896 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Miami, FL has 1.5× 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
Miami, FL ranks #321 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 |
| 321 | Miami, FL | $36,920 | $31,845 | $27,896 |
*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 Miami, FL?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area is $36,920 a year, or about $17.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,780 and $44,060.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Miami, FL?
On the median $36,920 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $31,845 a year ($2,654 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Miami, FL a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 14.2% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,896 would in a typical U.S. city. Miami, FL ranks #321 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant 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) — 73% of a median cooks, restaurant’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, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,480
- 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
- Cooks, Short Order — $34,570
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $32,280
- Dishwasher — $31,480
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $31,080