Food Preparation Worker Salary in Columbus, OH
Food Preparation Workers in the Columbus, OH metro area earn a median $36,930 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,620 take-home, or $2,635 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Columbus, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,252
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,290
- Medicare (1.45%)$535
- Ohio income tax$233
- Take-home pay$31,620
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Columbus, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,890 | $13.89 | $25,381 | $2,115 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 | $27,174 | $2,264 |
| Median (50th) | $36,930 | $17.75 | $31,620 | $2,635 |
| 75th percentile | $39,730 | $19.10 | $33,793 | $2,816 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,670 | $22.44 | $39,178 | $3,265 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,930 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 food preparation worker's $31,620 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,121 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Preparation Worker jobs are less concentrated in Columbus, OH than nationally (location quotient 0.50), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Columbus, OH ranks #11 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $36,930 | $31,620 | $33,121 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Ohio
- Toledo, OH — $35,260
- Cleveland, OH — $35,360
- Akron, OH — $35,010
- Cincinnati, OH — $34,320
- Dayton, OH — $33,110
- Canton, OH — $31,420
- Youngstown, OH — $30,310
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Columbus, OH?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Columbus, OH metro area is $36,930 a year, or about $17.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,200 and $39,730.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Columbus, OH?
On the median $36,930 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $31,620 a year ($2,635 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $233 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Columbus, OH a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,121 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbus, OH ranks #11 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker 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) — 45% of a median food preparation worker’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
- 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