Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL

In the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $36,100 ($17.36/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $29,000/year and the 90th was $45,300/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Florida tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $31,186 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 100.9 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$36,100$17.36 per hour · $3,008 monthly
10th Percentile$29,000$13.94/hr base
25th Percentile$34,200$16.44/hr base
75th Percentile$41,800$20.10/hr base
90th Percentile$45,300$21.78/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$36,100
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$36,100
Net 86%
Fed 6%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$31,186After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,599Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,199Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate13.6%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,152 / yr
Florida state income taxNo state wage tax$0
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,762 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Cooks, Restaurant in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (FL)
10th Percentile$13.94/hr$2,417$29,000$25,482
25th Percentile$16.44/hr$2,850$34,200$29,660
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$17.36/hr$3,008$36,100$31,186
75th Percentile$20.10/hr$3,483$41,800$35,766
90th Percentile$21.78/hr$3,775$45,300$38,579

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$36,100 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$74,392Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index100.90.9% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio48.5%of area median income

Compare restaurant cooks salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Florida:

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL is $36,100, which equates to approximately $3,008 per month or $17.36 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL is $17.36 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $13.94/hour and one in ten earned more than $21.78/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL span from $29,000 at the 10th percentile to $34,200 at the 25th, $41,800 at the 75th, and $45,300 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL?

On a median gross salary of $36,100, an estimated $31,186 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,199 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Florida in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,914 (an effective rate of 13.6%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL?

On the median annual salary of $36,100, gross monthly income is $3,008. After federal, FICA, and Florida state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,599 per month (or $1,199 every two weeks).

Is $36,100 a good salary in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL?

At $36,100, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 48.5% of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL median household income ($74,392). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 100.9, making regional consumer goods and services 0.9% more expensive than the U.S. average.