Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Lima, OH

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

Median annual salary $31,410 -14.7% vs national
Median hourly $15.10
10th percentile $23,100
90th percentile $37,400
Employed locally 430
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Lima, OH
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $23,100
    25th
    $28,090
    50th (median)
    $31,410
    75th
    $35,850
    90th
    $37,400

    Lima economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $62,001 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 51% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 49% 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
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $34,870
    Ohio $34,750

    Related occupations in Lima, OH

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $26,690
    Waiters and Waitresses $35,480
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $35,480
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $34,600
    Bartenders $28,940
    Food Preparation Workers $28,770

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Lima, OH is $15.10, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.56 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Lima, OH is 14.7% 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 Lima?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $23,100 per year in Lima, OH. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $28,090.