Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Cleveland, OH

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Cleveland, OH

Median annual salary $57,190 -6.2% vs national
Median hourly $27.50
10th percentile $36,830
90th percentile $97,920
Employed locally 1,010
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Cleveland, OH stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Chefs and Head Cooks
in
Cleveland, OH
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,830
    25th
    $42,640
    50th (median)
    $57,190
    75th
    $73,730
    90th
    $97,920

    Cleveland economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $68,507 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 83% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 17% 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
    Ohio $56,700
    Toledo, OH $56,360
    West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area $55,900

    Related occupations in Cleveland, OH

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,240
    Waiters and Waitresses $35,710
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,730
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $38,180
    Bartenders $30,190
    Food Preparation Workers $32,140

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Cleveland, OH is $27.50, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $48.32 or more per hour.

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

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Cleveland, OH is 6.2% 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 Cleveland?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $36,830 per year in Cleveland, OH. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $42,640.