Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Tallahassee, FL
Cooks, Restaurant in the Tallahassee, FL metro area earn a median $34,610 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,989 take-home, or $2,499 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Tallahassee, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,973
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,146
- Medicare (1.45%)$502
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$29,989
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Tallahassee, FL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,040 | $13.48 | $24,701 | $2,058 |
| 25th percentile | $30,430 | $14.63 | $26,631 | $2,219 |
| Median (50th) | $34,610 | $16.64 | $29,989 | $2,499 |
| 75th percentile | $36,400 | $17.50 | $31,427 | $2,619 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,150 | $20.75 | $36,851 | $3,071 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,610 buys in Tallahassee, FL
Prices in Tallahassee, FL are 6.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $29,989 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,931 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 Tallahassee, FL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Tallahassee, FL ranks #160 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 |
| 160 | Tallahassee, FL | $34,610 | $29,989 | $31,931 |
*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 Tallahassee, FL?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Tallahassee, FL metro area is $34,610 a year, or about $16.64 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,430 and $36,400.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Tallahassee, FL?
On the median $34,610 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $29,989 a year ($2,499 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Tallahassee, FL a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 6.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,931 would in a typical U.S. city. Tallahassee, FL ranks #160 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Tallahassee, FL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Tallahassee, FL is $1,193 a month ($1,339 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 Tallahassee, FL
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,810
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $36,750
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,850
- Food Preparation Worker — $33,760
- Bartender — $30,270
- Dishwasher — $30,040
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,600