Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Ocala, FL
Cooks, Restaurant in the Ocala, FL metro area earn a median $35,500 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,704 take-home, or $2,559 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Ocala, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,080
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,201
- Medicare (1.45%)$515
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$30,704
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Ocala, FL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,490 | $13.70 | $25,072 | $2,089 |
| 25th percentile | $31,300 | $15.05 | $27,330 | $2,277 |
| Median (50th) | $35,500 | $17.07 | $30,704 | $2,559 |
| 75th percentile | $36,700 | $17.64 | $31,668 | $2,639 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,890 | $21.10 | $37,446 | $3,120 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,500 buys in Ocala, FL
Prices in Ocala, FL are 4.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 14% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $30,704 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,241 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 Ocala, FL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.15).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Ocala, FL ranks #137 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 |
| 137 | Ocala, FL | $35,500 | $30,704 | $32,241 |
*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
- Orlando, FL — $37,970
- Homosassa Springs, FL — $34,720
- Sebastian, FL — $36,490
- Gainesville, FL — $35,760
- Tallahassee, FL — $34,610
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Ocala, FL?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Ocala, FL metro area is $35,500 a year, or about $17.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,300 and $36,700.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Ocala, FL?
On the median $35,500 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $30,704 a year ($2,559 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Ocala, FL a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 4.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,241 would in a typical U.S. city. Ocala, FL ranks #137 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Ocala, FL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Ocala, FL is $1,172 a month ($1,373 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 Ocala, FL
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,680
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,890
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,560
- Bartender — $29,620
- Dishwasher — $28,850
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,880