Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Columbus, OH

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

Median annual salary $35,510 -3.6% vs national
Median hourly $17.07
10th percentile $26,810
90th percentile $44,400
Employed locally 9,240
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Columbus, OH
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $26,810
    25th
    $29,690
    50th (median)
    $35,510
    75th
    $37,580
    90th
    $44,400

    Columbus economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $79,847 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
    Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $35,220
    Akron, OH $34,890
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $34,870
    Ohio $34,750
    Sandusky, OH $34,070

    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
    Bartenders $31,910
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $37,520
    Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop $27,520

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Columbus, OH is $17.07, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.07 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Columbus, OH is 3.6% 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 Columbus?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $26,810 per year in Columbus, OH. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,690.