Cooks, Short Order Salary in Columbus, OH
Cooks, Short Order in the Columbus, OH metro area earn a median $35,200 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,278 take-home, or $2,523 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, short order salary in Columbus, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,044
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,182
- Medicare (1.45%)$510
- Ohio income tax$186
- Take-home pay$30,278
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Cooks, Short Order pay by experience in Columbus, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,440 | $13.67 | $25,030 | $2,086 |
| 25th percentile | $31,480 | $15.13 | $27,391 | $2,283 |
| Median (50th) | $35,200 | $16.92 | $30,278 | $2,523 |
| 75th percentile | $39,660 | $19.07 | $33,739 | $2,812 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,050 | $21.66 | $37,921 | $3,160 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,200 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, short order's $30,278 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,715 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, Short Order jobs are about as common in Columbus, OH as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.12).
Best-paying cities for cooks, short order, adjusted for cost of living
Columbus, OH ranks #11 of 45 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $50,870 | $43,054 | $38,741 |
| 2 | Providence, RI | $44,050 | $36,539 | $35,903 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $46,450 | $38,051 | $35,303 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $44,200 | $36,458 | $34,466 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $45,990 | $37,706 | $34,147 |
| 6 | Sioux Falls, SD | $35,570 | $30,760 | $33,940 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $38,490 | $32,235 | $33,900 |
| 8 | Nashville, TN | $37,830 | $32,576 | $33,815 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $35,200 | $30,278 | $31,715 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 45 metros →
Cooks, Short Order salaries elsewhere in Ohio
- Cincinnati, OH — $32,180
- Cleveland, OH — $22,260
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, short order make in Columbus, OH?
The median cooks, short order salary in the Columbus, OH metro area is $35,200 a year, or about $16.92 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,480 and $39,660.
What is a cooks, short order’s take-home pay in Columbus, OH?
On the median $35,200 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $30,278 a year ($2,523 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $186 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Columbus, OH a good place to work as a cooks, short order?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $35,880. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,715 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbus, OH ranks #11 of 45 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, short order 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) — 47% of a median cooks, short order’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbus, OH
- Chef and Head Cook — $59,830
- 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
- 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