Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Columbus, OH

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

Median annual salary $29,440 -2.4% vs national
Median hourly $14.16
10th percentile $24,200
90th percentile $32,670
National median $30,160

Compare Cooks, Fast Food salary & buying power

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Cooks, Fast Food
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Columbus, OH
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $24,200
    25th
    $24,490
    50th (median)
    $29,440
    75th
    $32,670
    90th
    $32,670

    Columbus economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $79,847 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 37% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 63% 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
    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
    Cleveland, OH $26,660
    Johnson City, TN $26,660

    Related occupations in Columbus, OH

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,940
    Waiters and Waitresses $37,230
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $38,540
    Cooks, Restaurant $35,510
    Bartenders $31,910
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $37,520

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in Columbus?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Columbus, OH is $14.16, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.34 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Columbus, OH is 2.4% 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 Columbus?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $24,200 per year in Columbus, OH. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $24,490.