Chef Salary in Tampa, FL — 2026 Guide
Estimated salaries are adjusted for Tampa's cost of living (index: 108). National data from BLS OEWS 2024; city adjustments reflect local market conditions.
Chef Salary in Tampa — Key Numbers
Cost of Living in Tampa
Rent-to-income below 28% is considered affordable; above 35% is cost-burdened. Home price multiple below 3× is affordable; above 5× is expensive by traditional guidelines.
Job Market in Tampa
Tampa has a metro population of 3,250,000, offering a large, diverse job market with many employers across all industries. The 3.3% unemployment rate is below the national average, suggesting a tight labor market favorable to job seekers.
Financial Calculators for Tampa
Other Professions in Tampa
Chef Salary — Other Florida Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Chef make in Tampa, FL?
The estimated median salary for a Chef in Tampa is $63,634 per year (2026). This is derived from the national BLS median of $58,920 adjusted by Tampa's cost of living index (108). The typical salary range runs from $46,278 (25th percentile) to $87,026 (75th percentile), with top earners reaching $114,178.
Is Tampa affordable for a Chef?
On a $63,634 annual salary, a Chef in Tampa would spend approximately 27.1% of gross monthly income on median rent ($1,435/month). This is well within the 28% affordability threshold, making Tampa relatively affordable for this profession. The median home price of $390,000 is 6.1× the annual salary.
How does a Chef's salary compare to Tampa's overall income?
Tampa's median household income is $63,800. A Chef earning the city-adjusted median of $63,634 earns 0.3% less than the typical Tampa household income. This may reflect that the profession is entry-level or that Tampa has a particularly high median household income due to high-earning industries.
Explore More Salary Data
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS, 2024 release. City salary estimates adjusted by cost of living index. City data from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024–2025). Last updated: March 2026.