Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Sandusky, OH

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

Median annual salary $34,070 -7.5% vs national
Median hourly $16.38
10th percentile $23,970
90th percentile $43,570
Employed locally 920
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Sandusky, OH
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $23,970
    25th
    $28,220
    50th (median)
    $34,070
    75th
    $37,020
    90th
    $43,570

    Sandusky economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $70,687 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 48% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 52% 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 Sandusky, OH

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,480
    Waiters and Waitresses $33,740
    Bartenders $29,230
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,440
    Food Preparation Workers $31,720
    Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop $26,580

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Sandusky, OH is $16.38, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.91 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Sandusky, OH is 7.5% 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 Sandusky?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $23,970 per year in Sandusky, OH. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $28,220.