Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Ocala
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $80,160 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Ocala earn between $44,850 and $67,730.
- $36K10th
- $45K25th
- $56KMedian
- $68K75th
- $80K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,670 | $4,889 | $28.21 |
| Median | $55,540 | $4,628 | $26.70 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,850 | $3,738 | $21.56 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $67,730 | $5,644 | $32.56 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Ocala vs. Florida and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Ocala earn 5% less than the Florida average ($61,720) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocala | $58,670 | $55,540 | $35,840 | $80,160 | 120 |
| Florida | $61,720 | $58,240 | $31,920 | $92,300 | 19,670 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Ocala
On the average salary of $58,670, a single filer in Ocala takes home about $49,321 a year, or $4,110 a month and $1,897 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 Ocala a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Ocala area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.2), so the average $58,670 buys what about $61,606 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Ocala ($43,990). A typical home costs $273,318, or 4.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Florida cities
Ocala ranks 12th 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
- Ocala$58,670
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
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Ocala: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Ocala?
$28.21 an hour on average, and $26.70 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Ocala?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,850, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Ocala?
About $49,321 a year ($4,110 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,670. Florida has no state income tax.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Ocala than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
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 Ocala, FL (36100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.7%.
- 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 0.79, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.79).
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