Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Tampa
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,720 a year or less, while the top 10% make $87,730 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Tampa earn between $44,790 and $72,300.
- $40K10th
- $45K25th
- $58KMedian
- $72K75th
- $88K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $61,170 | $5,098 | $29.41 |
| Median | $58,240 | $4,853 | $28.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,790 | $3,732 | $21.53 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $72,300 | $6,025 | $34.76 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Tampa
On the average salary of $61,170, a single filer in Tampa takes home about $51,330 a year, or $4,278 a month and $1,974 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 Tampa a good place for chefs and head cooks? 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 $61,170 buys what about $60,630 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Tampa ($48,940). A typical home costs $360,738, or 5.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Florida cities
Tampa ranks 6th 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
- Crestview$59,240
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Tampa: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Tampa?
$29.41 an hour on average, and $28.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Tampa?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,720 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,790, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Tampa?
About $51,330 a year ($4,278 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,170. Florida has no state income tax.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Tampa than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($67,002).
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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL (45300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.7%.
- 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 0.92, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.