How much does a food preparation worker make in Lakeland?
$34,610a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area. That is $16.64 an hour or $2,884 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.64
- Vs. national median
- -2%
- Rank among cities
- 148 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 1,930
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $27,040Median: $34,610Highest 10%: $38,200
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,040 | $13.00 | |
| 25th | $29,440 | $14.15 | |
| Median | $34,610 | $16.64 | |
| 75th | $36,300 | $17.45 | |
| 90th | $38,200 | $18.37 |
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 |
| Gainesville, FL | $35,050 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | $34,920 |
| Pensacola, FL | $34,880 |
| Deltona, FL | $34,850 |
| Panama City, FL | $34,770 |
| Ocala, FL | $34,560 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $33,760 |
| Sebring, FL | $32,330 |
Related jobs in Lakeland
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $50,720 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $43,220 |
| Cook | $36,250 |
| Cook | $35,600 |
| Cook | $35,320 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $35,270 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $34,930 |
| Bartender | $33,920 |
| Food Server | $33,670 |
| Dishwasher | $29,190 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Lakeland?
The median hourly pay in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area is $16.64 ($34,610 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Lakeland than the national average?
No: $34,610 against $35,320 nationally, 2% less.
How does Lakeland compare with the rest of Florida?
The median in Florida is $35,920, so Lakeland pays 4% less.
Where does Lakeland rank for food preparation worker pay?
148 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in Lakeland?
The lowest-paid 10% make $27,040 or less a year; the top 10% make $38,200 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.