What is the median salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Florida?

According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Florida is $59,580.

How does Florida compare to the national median for Chefs and Head Cooks?

The Florida median is -1.7% versus the BLS national figure of $60,610.

What is the salary range for Chefs and Head Cooks in Florida?

BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $31,040 and the 90th-percentile at $98,960, which captures most full-time workers in the role.

Is Chefs and Head Cooks a growing field?

BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 7.1% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.

What education is required for Chefs and Head Cooks?

BLS lists the typical entry-level education as High school diploma. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.

Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Florida

Median annual$59,580

Mean annual$62,540

Range (10th to 90th)$31,040 to $98,960

Florida employment17,170

State vs national-1.7% vs national

Salary distribution

Where Florida chefs and head cooks fall on the wage curve.

Annual wage distribution

Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)

The middle 50% of workers earn between $37,440 and $76,790, with a median of $59,580.

Real disclosed salaries

Chefs and Head Cooks in Florida: actual employer-disclosed pay

Public records from 10 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $60,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.

By DOL wage level

DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.

Level	Filings	Median offer
Level I — entry	3	$60,000
Level II — qualified	2	$55,657
Level III — experienced	1	$135,200
Level IV — fully competent	4	$70,000

Top employers filing for this role

Companies with the most certified filings for Chefs and Head Cooks in Florida. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.

Employer	Most-filed title	Filings	Median
Aaru's Indian Restaurant, LLC	Executive Chef	2	$60,000
Cafe Delights Plantation LLC	Chef Manager	1	$43,680
OMAKASE CAFE MIAMI LLC	Executive Sous Chef	1	$80,000
The Boca Raton, LLC	Sous Chef	1	$51,314
RC BISTRO, LLC.	Executive Chef	1	$100,000
LOTO FOOD LLC	executive chef	1	$60,000
FURNI LLC	Executive Chef	1	$60,000
ADVENTIST HEALTH SYSTEM SUNBELT HEALTHCARE CORP.	Senior Manager of Culinary Strategy	1	$135,200
Cocina Nikkei USA LLC	Chef Manager	1	$60,000

Recent sample filings

A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.

Chef Manager at Cafe Delights Plantation LLC
$43,680
PlantationWage Level IDecided Jul 17, 2025I-200-25191-167125
Executive Sous Chef at OMAKASE CAFE MIAMI LLC
$80,000
MIAMIWage Level IVDecided Jun 16, 2025I-200-25160-071226
Executive Chef at Aaru's Indian Restaurant, LLC
$60,000
TallahasseeWage Level IVDecided Jun 13, 2025I-200-25157-063024
Sous Chef at The Boca Raton, LLC
$51,314
Boca RatonWage Level IIDecided May 23, 2025I-200-25136-987291
Executive Chef at RC BISTRO, LLC.
$100,000
Key LargoWage Level IVDecided Apr 9, 2025I-201-25092-823512
executive chef at LOTO FOOD LLC
$60,000
WESTONWage Level IDecided Feb 19, 2025I-200-25043-685266
Executive Chef at FURNI LLC
$60,000
OAKLAND PARKWage Level IDecided Feb 14, 2025I-200-25038-674843
Senior Manager of Culinary Strategy at ADVENTIST HEALTH SYSTEM SUNBELT HEALTHCARE CORP.
$135,200
Altamonte SpringsWage Level IIIDecided Dec 2, 2024I-200-24327-494600

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.

By seniority

Chefs and Head Cooks pay by experience level in Florida

Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.

Entry →Mid →Senior →Lead →

Pay by industry

Chefs and Head Cooks in Florida, by industry

Median offered wage across 2 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $100,000.

Industry	Largest employer	Filings	Median offer
Professional services	RC BISTRO, LLC.	1	$100,000
Healthcare	ADVENTIST HEALTH SYSTEM SUNBELT HEALTHCARE CORP.	1	$135,200

Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.

Wage trend

Median annual wage in Florida over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.

Median annual wage, Florida2023 to 2024

Typical entry

Education
High school diploma
Experience
5 years or more
On-the-job training
None

Top skills (O*NET)

Food Production
Knowledge
4.7 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
4.1 / 5
Production and Processing
Knowledge
4.0 / 5
Administration and Management
Knowledge
4.0 / 5
Coordination
Technical
4.0 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
4.0 / 5
Problem Sensitivity
Ability
4.0 / 5

Common tasks (O*NET)

01
Monitor sanitation practices to ensure that employees follow standards and regulations.
02
Check the quality of raw or cooked food products to ensure that standards are met.
03
Determine production schedules and staff requirements necessary to ensure timely delivery of services.
04
Check the quantity and quality of received products.
05
Supervise or coordinate activities of cooks or workers engaged in food preparation.
06
Analyze recipes to assign prices to menu items, based on food, labor, and overhead costs.
07
Determine how food should be presented and create decorative food displays.
08
Instruct cooks or other workers in the preparation, cooking, garnishing, or presentation of food.

10-year outlook

Growth 2024 → 2034

+7.1%

Projected annual openings

—

BLS outlook

Growing faster than average

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.

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Top metros in Florida

Metro-level salary data for chefs and head cooks in major Florida metropolitan areas.

Tampa$61,600
Orlando$61,270
Jacksonville$57,990
Miami$57,520

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks pay across nearby states

Frequently asked questions

What is the median salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Florida?: According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Florida is $59,580.
How does Florida compare to the national median for Chefs and Head Cooks?: The Florida median is -1.7% versus the BLS national figure of $60,610.
What is the salary range for Chefs and Head Cooks in Florida?: BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $31,040 and the 90th-percentile at $98,960, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
Is Chefs and Head Cooks a growing field?: BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 7.1% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
What education is required for Chefs and Head Cooks?: BLS lists the typical entry-level education as High school diploma. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.

Disclaimer

Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.