Cooks, Short Order pay range in Lakeland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $35,320 or more. The middle half of cooks, short order in Lakeland earn between $31,840 and $35,320.
- $32K10th
- $32K25th
- $35KMedian
- $35K75th
- $35K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,010 | $2,834 | $16.35 |
| Median | $35,320 | $2,943 | $16.98 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,840 | $2,653 | $15.31 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,320 | $2,943 | $16.98 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Short Order pay in Lakeland vs. Florida and the U.S.
Cooks, short order in Lakeland earn about the same as the Florida average ($34,570) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($36,120). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $35,880.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland | $34,010 | $35,320 | $31,840 | $35,320 | n/a |
| Florida | $34,570 | $34,240 | $31,450 | $37,260 | 5,050 |
| United States | $36,120 | $35,880 | $23,440 | $46,460 | 138,650 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Short Order salary after taxes in Lakeland
On the average salary of $34,010, a single filer in Lakeland takes home about $29,507 a year, or $2,459 a month and $1,135 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% 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 cooks, short order? 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 $34,010 buys what about $35,011 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Lakeland ($46,140). A typical home costs $298,816, or 8.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Short Order salary in other Florida cities
Lakeland ranks 8th of 14 Florida metro areas for this job; Naples pays the most ($37,680).
- Naples$37,680
- Miami$36,350
- Fort Myers$35,230
- Sarasota$35,110
- Tampa$34,520
- Port St. Lucie$34,440
- Palm Bay$34,350
- Lakeland$34,010
- Orlando$33,550
- Deltona$33,260
Highest-paying cities for cooks, short order
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($52,560).
- Kahului, HI$52,560
- Denver, CO$51,530
- Seattle, WA$49,560
- Corvallis, OR$48,580
- San Francisco, CA$46,250
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Cooks, Short Order salary in Lakeland: questions
How much do cooks, short order make an hour in Lakeland?
$16.35 an hour on average, and $16.98 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, short order salary in Lakeland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,840, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, short order take-home pay in Lakeland?
About $29,507 a year ($2,459 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,010. Florida has no state income tax.
Do cooks, short order earn more in Lakeland than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less than the U.S. average for this job ($36,120).
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 35-2015; area Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL (29460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- 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.
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