Food Preparation Worker Salary in Dayton, OH
Food Preparation Workers in the Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metro area earn a median $33,110 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,656 take-home, or $2,388 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Dayton, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,793
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,053
- Medicare (1.45%)$480
- Ohio income tax$128
- Take-home pay$28,656
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Dayton, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,910 | $12.94 | $23,770 | $1,981 |
| 25th percentile | $28,800 | $13.85 | $25,311 | $2,109 |
| Median (50th) | $33,110 | $15.92 | $28,656 | $2,388 |
| 75th percentile | $36,780 | $17.68 | $31,504 | $2,625 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,190 | $20.76 | $36,478 | $3,040 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,110 buys in Dayton, OH
Prices in Dayton, OH are 7.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 27% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $28,656 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,914 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 Dayton, OH than nationally (location quotient 0.50), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Dayton, OH ranks #64 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 |
| 64 | Dayton, OH | $33,110 | $28,656 | $30,914 |
*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
- Columbus, OH — $36,930
- Cleveland, OH — $35,360
- Akron, OH — $35,010
- Cincinnati, OH — $34,320
- Canton, OH — $31,420
- Youngstown, OH — $30,310
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Dayton, OH?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metro area is $33,110 a year, or about $15.92 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,800 and $36,780.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Dayton, OH?
On the median $33,110 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $28,656 a year ($2,388 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $128 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Dayton, OH a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 7.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,914 would in a typical U.S. city. Dayton, OH ranks #64 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Dayton, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Dayton, OH is $1,009 a month ($1,273 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Dayton, OH
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,680
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,680
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,600
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,700
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $31,200
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $30,020
- Bartender — $29,830
- Dishwasher — $29,580
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,680
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $26,990
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,950