How much does a food preparation worker make in Gainesville?
$35,050a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the Gainesville, FL metro area. That is $16.85 an hour or $2,921 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.85
- Vs. national median
- -1%
- Rank among cities
- 127 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 1,320
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $27,380Median: $35,050Highest 10%: $38,570
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,380 | $13.16 | |
| 25th | $30,260 | $14.55 | |
| Median | $35,050 | $16.85 | |
| 75th | $36,690 | $17.64 | |
| 90th | $38,570 | $18.54 |
Other cities in Florida
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| Naples, FL | $38,190 |
| North Port, FL | $37,320 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $37,000 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $36,730 |
| Crestview, FL | $36,680 |
| Cape Coral, FL | $36,560 |
| Tampa, FL | $36,330 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | $36,310 |
| Miami, FL | $36,090 |
| Palm Bay, FL | $35,870 |
| Orlando, FL | $35,600 |
| Sebastian, FL | $35,600 |
| Wildwood, FL | $35,410 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | $34,920 |
| Pensacola, FL | $34,880 |
| Deltona, FL | $34,850 |
| Panama City, FL | $34,770 |
| Lakeland, FL | $34,610 |
| Ocala, FL | $34,560 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $33,760 |
| Sebring, FL | $32,330 |
Related jobs in Gainesville
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $47,380 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $40,040 |
| Cook | $36,400 |
| Cook | $35,760 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $35,400 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $35,140 |
| Bartender | $35,050 |
| Food Server | $34,310 |
| Cook | $33,220 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $29,540 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Gainesville?
The median hourly pay in the Gainesville, FL metro area is $16.85 ($35,050 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Gainesville than the national average?
No: $35,050 against $35,320 nationally, 1% less.
How does Gainesville compare with the rest of Florida?
The median in Florida is $35,920, so Gainesville pays 2% less.
Where does Gainesville rank for food preparation worker pay?
127 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in Gainesville?
The lowest-paid 10% make $27,380 or less a year; the top 10% make $38,570 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.