Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN

Median annual salary $55,660 -8.7% vs national
Median hourly $26.76
10th percentile $34,280
90th percentile $96,030
Employed locally 1,140
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $34,280
    25th
    $43,920
    50th (median)
    $55,660
    75th
    $71,670
    90th
    $96,030

    Cincinnati economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $79,490 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 70% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 30% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Canton-Massillon, OH $60,310
    Columbus, OH $59,820
    Sandusky, OH $59,480
    Cleveland, OH $57,190
    Ohio $56,700
    Toledo, OH $56,360

    Related occupations in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,790
    Waiters and Waitresses $36,290
    Cooks, Restaurant $34,870
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,270
    Bartenders $30,460
    Food Preparation Workers $31,300

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Cincinnati?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN is $26.76, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $40.20 or more per hour.

    Is Cincinnati above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN is 8.7% below the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Cincinnati?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $34,280 per year in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $43,920.