Food Preparation Worker Salary in Toledo, OH
Food Preparation Workers in the Toledo, OH metro area earn a median $35,260 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,324 take-home, or $2,527 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Toledo, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,051
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,186
- Medicare (1.45%)$511
- Ohio income tax$187
- Take-home pay$30,324
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Toledo, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,580 | $13.26 | $24,322 | $2,027 |
| 25th percentile | $29,100 | $13.99 | $25,544 | $2,129 |
| Median (50th) | $35,260 | $16.95 | $30,324 | $2,527 |
| 75th percentile | $38,260 | $18.39 | $32,652 | $2,721 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,200 | $21.73 | $38,038 | $3,170 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,260 buys in Toledo, OH
Prices in Toledo, OH are 8.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 33% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $30,324 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,157 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 Toledo, OH than nationally (location quotient 0.57), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Toledo, OH ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | Toledo, OH | $35,260 | $30,324 | $33,157 |
*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
- Columbus, OH — $36,930
- 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 Toledo, OH?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Toledo, OH metro area is $35,260 a year, or about $16.95 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,100 and $38,260.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Toledo, OH?
On the median $35,260 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $30,324 a year ($2,527 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $187 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Toledo, OH a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 8.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,157 would in a typical U.S. city. Toledo, OH ranks #9 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Toledo, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Toledo, OH is $820 a month ($1,076 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Toledo, OH
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,230
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,760
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,140
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,560
- Bartender — $30,820
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $30,060
- Dishwasher — $29,290
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $28,800
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,570
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $27,200
- Cooks, Fast Food — $22,560