Cooks, Short Order Salary in Dayton, OH

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH

Median annual salary $28,980 -18.6% vs national
Median hourly $13.93
10th percentile $21,740
90th percentile $37,230
National median $35,620

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Cooks, Short Order
in
Dayton, OH
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $21,740
    25th
    $23,540
    50th (median)
    $28,980
    75th
    $30,810
    90th
    $37,230

    Dayton economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $69,752 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Short Order salary vs area income 42% Median Cooks, Short Order salary is 58% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Short Order

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,970
    Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $48,700
    Barnstable Town, MA $46,830
    Arizona $46,240
    Washington $46,010
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $46,010

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Short Order salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Columbus, OH $33,280
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $32,970
    Toledo, OH $30,360
    Akron, OH $30,050
    Canton-Massillon, OH $29,440
    Johnson City, TN $28,460

    Related occupations in Dayton, OH

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,140
    Waiters and Waitresses $36,400
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $36,490
    Cooks, Restaurant $35,220
    Bartenders $29,600
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $36,860

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Short Order make per hour in Dayton?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Short Order in Dayton, OH is $13.93, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.10 or more per hour.

    Is Dayton above or below average for Cooks, Short Order salaries?

    The median Cooks, Short Order salary in Dayton, OH is 18.6% below the national median of $35,620. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Short Order in Dayton?

    Entry-level Cooks, Short Order (10th percentile) earn around $21,740 per year in Dayton, OH. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $23,540.