Food Preparation Worker Salary in Cincinnati, OH
Food Preparation Workers in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn a median $34,320 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,595 take-home, or $2,466 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Cincinnati, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,938
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,128
- Medicare (1.45%)$498
- Ohio income tax$161
- Take-home pay$29,595
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Cincinnati? City residents also pay Cincinnati’s city income tax — about $618 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $28,977 ($2,415 a month). Choose “Cincinnati” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro spans Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Cincinnati, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,230 | $11.65 | $21,563 | $1,797 |
| 25th percentile | $28,790 | $13.84 | $25,303 | $2,109 |
| Median (50th) | $34,320 | $16.50 | $29,595 | $2,466 |
| 75th percentile | $37,780 | $18.16 | $32,280 | $2,690 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,420 | $21.36 | $37,432 | $3,119 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,320 buys in Cincinnati, OH
Prices in Cincinnati, OH are 4.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 12% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $29,595 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,031 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Preparation Worker jobs are about as common in Cincinnati, OH as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.84).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Cincinnati, OH ranks #12 of 65 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 3 | Omaha, NE | $36,140 | $30,454 | $33,134 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $36,930 | $31,620 | $33,121 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $35,360 | $30,402 | $32,369 |
| 6 | Jacksonville, FL | $36,730 | $31,693 | $31,857 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $34,390 | $29,812 | $31,476 |
| 8 | North Port, FL | $37,320 | $32,167 | $31,408 |
| 12 | Cincinnati, OH | $34,320 | $29,595 | $31,031 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 65 metros →
About the job: food preparation workers
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -3.0% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Ohio
- Columbus, OH — $36,930
- Cleveland, OH — $35,360
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Cincinnati, OH?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area is $34,320 a year, or about $16.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,790 and $37,780.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Cincinnati, OH?
On the median $34,320 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $29,595 a year ($2,466 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $161 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Cincinnati, OH a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 4.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,031 would in a typical U.S. city. Cincinnati, OH ranks #12 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Cincinnati, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Cincinnati, OH is $1,043 a month ($1,342 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Cincinnati, OH
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,370
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,180
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,530
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,030
- Bartender — $34,240
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $32,070
- Dishwasher — $30,740
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,890
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,720
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,350
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,930