Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Cincinnati, OH
Cooks, Restaurant in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn a median $36,030 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,922 take-home, or $2,577 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Cincinnati, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,144
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,234
- Medicare (1.45%)$522
- Ohio income tax$208
- Take-home pay$30,922
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.
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Cincinnati, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,250 | $13.10 | $24,050 | $2,004 |
| 25th percentile | $29,200 | $14.04 | $25,622 | $2,135 |
| Median (50th) | $36,030 | $17.32 | $30,922 | $2,577 |
| 75th percentile | $37,890 | $18.22 | $32,365 | $2,697 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,880 | $21.58 | $37,789 | $3,149 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,030 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, restaurant's $30,922 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,423 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Cincinnati, OH as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.08).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Cincinnati, OH ranks #125 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
| 125 | Cincinnati, OH | $36,030 | $30,922 | $32,423 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Ohio
- Canton, OH — $35,600
- Sandusky, OH — $35,250
- Cleveland, OH — $37,060
- Toledo, OH — $35,560
- Akron, OH — $36,030
- Dayton, OH — $35,700
- Columbus, OH — $36,590
- Youngstown, OH — $32,150
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Cincinnati, OH?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area is $36,030 a year, or about $17.32 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,200 and $37,890.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Cincinnati, OH?
On the median $36,030 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $30,922 a year ($2,577 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $208 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Cincinnati, OH a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 4.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,423 would in a typical U.S. city. Cincinnati, OH ranks #125 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant 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) — 40% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Cincinnati, OH
- Chef and Head Cook — $56,620
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,370
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,180
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,530
- 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