Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Tampa
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,420 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,810 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Tampa earn between $35,040 and $38,820.
- $32K10th
- $35K25th
- $35KMedian
- $39K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,100 | $3,092 | $17.84 |
| Median | $35,040 | $2,920 | $16.85 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,040 | $2,920 | $16.85 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,820 | $3,235 | $18.66 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Tampa vs. Florida and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Tampa earn about the same as the Florida average ($38,170) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa | $37,100 | $35,040 | $32,420 | $44,810 | 4,220 |
| Florida | $38,170 | $36,250 | $31,650 | $46,520 | 25,100 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Tampa
On the average salary of $37,100, a single filer in Tampa takes home about $31,990 a year, or $2,666 a month and $1,230 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Tampa a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Tampa area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.9), so the average $37,100 buys what about $36,773 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Tampa ($48,940). A typical home costs $360,738, or 9.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Florida cities
Tampa ranks 14th of 22 Florida metro areas for this job; Naples pays the most ($44,380).
- Naples$44,380
- Orlando$40,190
- Crestview$39,250
- Sebastian$38,900
- Miami$38,780
- Sarasota$38,340
- Lakeland$37,970
- Punta Gorda$37,690
- Jacksonville$37,450
- Tampa$37,100
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Tampa: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Tampa?
$17.84 an hour on average, and $16.85 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Tampa?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,420 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,040, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Tampa?
About $31,990 a year ($2,666 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,100. Florida has no state income tax.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Tampa than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
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 35-2012; area Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL (45300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.6%.
- 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 1.03, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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