Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Lakeland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $78,630 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Lakeland earn between $42,820 and $64,110.
- $35K10th
- $43K25th
- $51KMedian
- $64K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $55,900 | $4,658 | $26.88 |
| Median | $50,720 | $4,227 | $24.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $42,820 | $3,568 | $20.59 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $64,110 | $5,342 | $30.82 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Lakeland vs. Florida and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Lakeland earn 9% less than the Florida average ($61,720) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland | $55,900 | $50,720 | $34,990 | $78,630 | 280 |
| Florida | $61,720 | $58,240 | $31,920 | $92,300 | 19,670 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Lakeland
On the average salary of $55,900, a single filer in Lakeland takes home about $47,096 a year, or $3,925 a month and $1,811 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Lakeland a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lakeland area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.1), so the average $55,900 buys what about $57,545 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Lakeland ($46,140). A typical home costs $298,816, or 5.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Florida cities
Lakeland ranks 17th of 22 Florida metro areas for this job; Naples pays the most ($74,320).
- Naples$74,320
- Orlando$67,370
- Sarasota$64,770
- Port St. Lucie$62,060
- Jacksonville$61,250
- Tampa$61,170
- Wildwood$60,610
- Miami$60,190
- Fort Myers$60,010
- Lakeland$55,900
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Lakeland: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Lakeland?
$26.87 an hour on average, and $24.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Lakeland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $42,820, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Lakeland?
About $47,096 a year ($3,925 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $55,900. Florida has no state income tax.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Lakeland than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL (29460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.82, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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