SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN · 9 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Cincinnati, OH is $56,620 a year, trailing the national median of $62,470 by 9.4%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Cincinnati, OH is $56,620 a year, trailing the national median of $62,470 by 9.4%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $46,300 and $74,130. The lowest tenth earn under $38,240, while the highest tenth earn more than $83,610.
The area has 1,060 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.75 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Sandusky records the highest median at $67,190. Of the 647 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 356th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,240 | −38.8% |
| 25th | $46,300 | −25.9% |
| Median (50th) | $56,620 | −9.4% |
| 75th | $74,130 | +18.7% |
| 90th | $83,610 | +33.8% |
| Mean | $60,450 | −3.2% |
Other metro areas in Ohio
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Cincinnati run 7.2% below the national average, so the median of $56,620 goes as far as $61,013 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 2.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$56,620as reported by BLSLocal price level
92.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$61,013US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $56,620 a year, 9.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,240 to $83,610 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,060 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Sandusky, at $67,190.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Cincinnati, OH?
The median annual wage is $56,620, or $27.22 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $62,470, so pay in Cincinnati, OH is 9.4% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Cincinnati, OH earns more than $83,610 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,240 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Sandusky, at $67,190 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,060 jobs in this occupation in Cincinnati, OH. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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