Chef and Head Cook Salary in Columbus, OH
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Columbus, OH metro area earn a median $59,830 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,390 take-home, or $4,116 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chef and head cook salary in Columbus, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,000
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,709
- Medicare (1.45%)$868
- Ohio income tax$863
- Take-home pay$49,390
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Chef and Head Cook pay by experience in Columbus, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,600 | $19.52 | $34,468 | $2,872 |
| 25th percentile | $47,010 | $22.60 | $39,442 | $3,287 |
| Median (50th) | $59,830 | $28.76 | $49,390 | $4,116 |
| 75th percentile | $75,630 | $36.36 | $60,738 | $5,062 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,770 | $46.52 | $75,029 | $6,252 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,830 buys in Columbus, OH
Prices in Columbus, OH are 4.5% 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 $49,390 take-home pay has the buying power of $51,735 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 Columbus, OH than nationally (location quotient 0.53), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for chefs and head cooks, adjusted for cost of living
Columbus, OH ranks #28 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 |
| 28 | Columbus, OH | $59,830 | $49,390 | $51,735 |
*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
- Cleveland, OH — $57,020
- Cincinnati, OH — $56,620
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make in Columbus, OH?
The median chef and head cook salary in the Columbus, OH metro area is $59,830 a year, or about $28.76 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,010 and $75,630.
What is a chef and head cook’s take-home pay in Columbus, OH?
On the median $59,830 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $49,390 a year ($4,116 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $863 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Columbus, OH a good place to work as a chef and head cook?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $62,470. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $51,735 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbus, OH ranks #28 of 74 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chef and head cook afford rent in Columbus, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbus, OH is $1,179 a month ($1,416 for two bedrooms) — 29% of a median chef and head cook’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbus, OH
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,100
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,790
- Waiter and Waitress — $37,490
- Bartender — $37,000
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,930
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,590
- Cooks, Short Order — $35,200
- Dishwasher — $33,690
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $32,250
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $30,000
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,670
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $27,650