Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Columbus, OH
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Columbus, OH metro area earn a median $38,100 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,528 take-home, or $2,711 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Columbus, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,392
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,362
- Medicare (1.45%)$552
- Ohio income tax$265
- Take-home pay$32,528
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Columbus? City residents also pay Columbus’s city income tax — about $953 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $31,575 ($2,631 a month). Choose “Columbus” 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 →
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay by experience in Columbus, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,870 | $14.84 | $26,917 | $2,243 |
| 25th percentile | $36,280 | $17.44 | $31,116 | $2,593 |
| Median (50th) | $38,100 | $18.32 | $32,528 | $2,711 |
| 75th percentile | $45,370 | $21.81 | $38,169 | $3,181 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,410 | $22.79 | $39,753 | $3,313 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,100 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 cooks, institution and cafeteria's $32,528 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,072 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Columbus, OH has 1.3× 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
Columbus, OH ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | Columbus, OH | $38,100 | $32,528 | $34,072 |
*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
- Cleveland, OH — $36,930
- Cincinnati, OH — $37,180
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Columbus, OH?
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in the Columbus, OH metro area is $38,100 a year, or about $18.32 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,280 and $45,370.
What is a cooks, institution and cafeteria’s take-home pay in Columbus, OH?
On the median $38,100 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $32,528 a year ($2,711 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $265 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Columbus, OH a good place to work as a cooks, institution and cafeteria?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $37,450. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,072 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbus, OH ranks #9 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria 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) — 43% of a median cooks, institution and cafeteria’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbus, OH
- 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
- 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