Food Preparation Worker Salary in Cleveland, OH
Food Preparation Workers in the Cleveland, OH metro area earn a median $35,360 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,402 take-home, or $2,533 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Cleveland, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,063
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,192
- Medicare (1.45%)$513
- Ohio income tax$190
- Take-home pay$30,402
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Cleveland? City residents also pay Cleveland’s city income tax — about $884 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $29,518 ($2,460 a month). Choose “Cleveland” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Cleveland, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,890 | $13.41 | $24,577 | $2,048 |
| 25th percentile | $29,330 | $14.10 | $25,722 | $2,144 |
| Median (50th) | $35,360 | $17.00 | $30,402 | $2,533 |
| 75th percentile | $38,320 | $18.42 | $32,699 | $2,725 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,310 | $21.30 | $37,347 | $3,112 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,360 buys in Cleveland, OH
Prices in Cleveland, OH are 6.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $30,402 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,369 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 less concentrated in Cleveland, OH than nationally (location quotient 0.74), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Cleveland, OH ranks #5 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 |
*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
- Cincinnati, OH — $34,320
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Cleveland, OH?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Cleveland, OH metro area is $35,360 a year, or about $17.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,330 and $38,320.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Cleveland, OH?
On the median $35,360 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $30,402 a year ($2,533 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $190 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Cleveland, OH a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 6.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,369 would in a typical U.S. city. Cleveland, OH ranks #5 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Cleveland, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Cleveland, OH is $1,048 a month ($1,268 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Cleveland, OH
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,700
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,060
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,930
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,260
- Bartender — $33,470
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $30,350
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,400
- Dishwasher — $29,360
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,750
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $27,060