Food Preparation Workers pay range in Tampa
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $43,220 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Tampa earn between $31,200 and $37,420.
- $28K10th
- $31K25th
- $36KMedian
- $37K75th
- $43K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,430 | $2,952 | $17.03 |
| Median | $36,330 | $3,028 | $17.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,420 | $3,118 | $17.99 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Tampa vs. Florida and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Tampa earn about the same as the Florida average ($35,210) and about the same as the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa | $35,430 | $36,330 | $28,080 | $43,220 | 10,150 |
| Florida | $35,210 | $35,920 | $28,190 | $43,300 | 73,100 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Tampa
On the average salary of $35,430, a single filer in Tampa takes home about $30,648 a year, or $2,554 a month and $1,179 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 Tampa a good place for food preparation workers? 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 $35,430 buys what about $35,117 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 10.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Florida cities
Tampa ranks 10th of 22 Florida metro areas for this job; Naples pays the most ($38,130).
- Naples$38,130
- Sarasota$37,070
- Crestview$36,130
- Port St. Lucie$35,880
- Fort Myers$35,610
- Jacksonville$35,550
- Miami$35,500
- Sebastian$35,500
- Punta Gorda$35,440
- Tampa$35,430
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Tampa: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Tampa?
$17.03 an hour on average, and $17.47 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Tampa?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Tampa?
About $30,648 a year ($2,554 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,430. Florida has no state income tax.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Tampa than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
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 35-2021; area Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL (45300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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 1.22, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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