Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Cincinnati, OH
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn a median $37,180 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,814 take-home, or $2,651 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Cincinnati, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,282
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,305
- Medicare (1.45%)$539
- Ohio income tax$240
- Take-home pay$31,814
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Cincinnati? City residents also pay Cincinnati’s city income tax — about $669 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $31,145 ($2,595 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 →
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay by experience in Cincinnati, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,510 | $14.67 | $26,638 | $2,220 |
| 25th percentile | $32,670 | $15.71 | $28,314 | $2,360 |
| Median (50th) | $37,180 | $17.88 | $31,814 | $2,651 |
| 75th percentile | $39,570 | $19.02 | $33,669 | $2,806 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,240 | $22.23 | $38,845 | $3,237 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,180 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 cooks, institution and cafeteria's $31,814 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,359 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cincinnati, OH has 1.4× the national concentration of cooks, institution and cafeteria jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria, adjusted for cost of living
Cincinnati, OH ranks #16 of 37 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $51,530 | $43,584 | $39,218 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $51,880 | $42,029 | $38,062 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $48,530 | $38,967 | $35,992 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $45,070 | $37,119 | $35,090 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $44,830 | $36,621 | $34,936 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $49,140 | $40,027 | $34,622 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $47,100 | $38,537 | $34,443 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $44,470 | $36,565 | $34,352 |
| 16 | Cincinnati, OH | $37,180 | $31,814 | $33,359 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 37 metros →
About the job: cooks, institution and cafeteria
Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.8% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries elsewhere in Ohio
- Columbus, OH — $38,100
- Cleveland, OH — $36,930
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Cincinnati, OH?
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area is $37,180 a year, or about $17.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $32,670 and $39,570.
What is a cooks, institution and cafeteria’s take-home pay in Cincinnati, OH?
On the median $37,180 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $31,814 a year ($2,651 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $240 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Cincinnati, OH a good place to work as a cooks, institution and cafeteria?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $37,450. Local prices are 4.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,359 would in a typical U.S. city. Cincinnati, OH ranks #16 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria 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) — 39% of a median cooks, institution and cafeteria’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
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,530
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,030
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,320
- 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