Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN

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

Median annual salary $34,870 -5.3% vs national
Median hourly $16.77
10th percentile $25,560
90th percentile $40,420
Employed locally 11,340
National median $36,830

Compare Cooks, Restaurant 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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Cooks, Restaurant
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $25,560
    25th
    $27,160
    50th (median)
    $34,870
    75th
    $36,830
    90th
    $40,420

    Cincinnati economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $79,490 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 44% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 56% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Cleveland, OH $36,730
    Columbus, OH $35,510
    Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $35,220
    Akron, OH $34,890
    Ohio $34,750
    Sandusky, OH $34,070

    Related occupations in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,790
    Waiters and Waitresses $36,290
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,270
    Bartenders $30,460
    Food Preparation Workers $31,300
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $36,190

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Cincinnati?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN is $16.77, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.58 or more per hour.

    Is Cincinnati above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN is 5.3% below the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Restaurant in Cincinnati?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $25,560 per year in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $27,160.