Food Preparation Worker Salary in Tampa, FL
Food Preparation Workers in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area earn a median $36,330 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,371 take-home, or $2,614 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Tampa, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,180
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,252
- Medicare (1.45%)$527
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$31,371
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Tampa, FL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,080 | $13.50 | $24,734 | $2,061 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 | $27,249 | $2,271 |
| Median (50th) | $36,330 | $17.47 | $31,371 | $2,614 |
| 75th percentile | $37,420 | $17.99 | $32,247 | $2,687 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,220 | $20.78 | $36,907 | $3,076 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,330 buys in Tampa, FL
Prices in Tampa, FL are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.26× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $31,371 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,094 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Tampa, FL has 1.2× the national concentration of food preparation worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Tampa, FL ranks #55 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 55 | Tampa, FL | $36,330 | $31,371 | $31,094 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Florida
- Wildwood, FL — $35,410
- Crestview, FL — $36,680
- Jacksonville, FL — $36,730
- Naples, FL — $38,190
- Port St. Lucie, FL — $37,000
- Ocala, FL — $34,560
- North Port, FL — $37,320
- Gainesville, FL — $35,050
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Tampa, FL?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area is $36,330 a year, or about $17.47 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,200 and $37,420.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Tampa, FL?
On the median $36,330 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $31,371 a year ($2,614 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Tampa, FL a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,094 would in a typical U.S. city. Tampa, FL ranks #55 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Tampa, FL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Tampa, FL is $1,696 a month ($1,977 for two bedrooms) — 65% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Tampa, FL
- Chef and Head Cook — $58,240
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,240
- Bartender — $37,460
- Waiter and Waitress — $37,070
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,010
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,040
- Cooks, Short Order — $34,740
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,480
- Dishwasher — $31,670
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $31,150
- Cooks, Fast Food — $30,300
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,880