Chef and Head Cook Salary in Cincinnati, OH
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn a median $56,620 a year — 9% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $46,899 take-home, or $3,908 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chef and head cook salary in Cincinnati, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,614
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,510
- Medicare (1.45%)$821
- Ohio income tax$775
- Take-home pay$46,899
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
The Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro spans Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Chef and Head Cook pay by experience in Cincinnati, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,240 | $18.38 | $32,637 | $2,720 |
| 25th percentile | $46,300 | $22.26 | $38,891 | $3,241 |
| Median (50th) | $56,620 | $27.22 | $46,899 | $3,908 |
| 75th percentile | $74,130 | $35.64 | $59,724 | $4,977 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,610 | $40.20 | $66,133 | $5,511 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $56,620 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 chef and head cook's $46,899 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,176 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chef and Head Cook jobs are less concentrated in Cincinnati, OH than nationally (location quotient 0.75), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for chefs and head cooks, adjusted for cost of living
Cincinnati, OH ranks #44 of 74 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albany, NY | $84,430 | $64,264 | $64,544 |
| 2 | Providence, RI | $79,340 | $62,287 | $61,202 |
| 3 | Nashville, TN | $70,420 | $58,370 | $60,589 |
| 4 | Buffalo, NY | $74,290 | $57,678 | $60,179 |
| 5 | Atlantic City, NJ | $75,740 | $59,476 | $60,164 |
| 6 | Memphis, TN | $66,230 | $55,396 | $60,096 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $80,330 | $65,342 | $58,796 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | $74,660 | $58,101 | $58,068 |
| 44 | Cincinnati, OH | $56,620 | $46,899 | $49,176 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 74 metros →
Chef and Head Cook salaries elsewhere in Ohio
- Columbus, OH — $59,830
- Cleveland, OH — $57,020
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make in Cincinnati, OH?
The median chef and head cook salary in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area is $56,620 a year, or about $27.22 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,300 and $74,130.
What is a chef and head cook’s take-home pay in Cincinnati, OH?
On the median $56,620 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $46,899 a year ($3,908 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $775 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Cincinnati, OH a good place to work as a chef and head cook?
Pay here is 9% below the national median of $62,470. Local prices are 4.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,176 would in a typical U.S. city. Cincinnati, OH ranks #44 of 74 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chef and head cook 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) — 27% of a median chef and head cook’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
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,320
- Bartender — $34,240
- Cooks, Short Order — $32,180
- 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