Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Cleveland, OH

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

Median annual salary $26,660 -11.6% vs national
Median hourly $12.82
10th percentile $25,030
90th percentile $37,470
Employed locally 1,340
National median $30,160

Compare Cooks, Fast Food salary & buying power

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Cooks, Fast Food
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Cleveland, OH
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $25,030
    25th
    $26,300
    50th (median)
    $26,660
    75th
    $30,490
    90th
    $37,470

    Cleveland economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $68,507 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 39% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 61% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Fast Food

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,580
    Hawaii $40,300
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Fast Food salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Columbus, OH $29,440
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $28,830
    North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) $28,650
    West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area $27,230
    Sandusky, OH $26,980
    Johnson City, TN $26,660

    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 Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in Cleveland?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Cleveland, OH is $12.82, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.25 or more per hour.

    Is Cleveland above or below average for Cooks, Fast Food salaries?

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Cleveland, OH is 11.6% below the national median of $30,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Cleveland?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $25,030 per year in Cleveland, OH. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $26,300.