SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Ohio
Ohio · 10 metro areas compared
In Ohio the median wage is $53,990.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Ohio the median wage is $53,990. That is 13.6% lower than the national median of $62,470. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $45,760 and $74,130. The lowest tenth earn under $38,370, while the highest tenth earn more than $89,960.
The area has 4,000 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.56 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Ohio ranks 43rd by median wage. Sandusky leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $67,190. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 436th of 774 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,370 | −38.6% |
| 25th | $45,760 | −26.7% |
| Median (50th) | $53,990 | −13.6% |
| 75th | $74,130 | +18.7% |
| 90th | $89,960 | +44.0% |
| Mean | $61,220 | −2.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Ohio
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sandusky | $67,190 | 60 | |
| 2 | Columbus | $59,830 | 750 | |
| 3 | Cleveland | $57,020 | 930 | |
| 4 | Cincinnati | $56,620 | 1,060 | |
| 5 | Akron | $55,060 | 220 | |
| 6 | Youngstown | $53,570 | 120 | |
| 7 | Toledo | $50,790 | 220 | |
| 8 | Canton | $49,730 | 110 | |
| 9 | Dayton | $47,580 | 210 | |
| 10 | Lima | $45,270 | 30 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Ohio run 7.2% below the national average, so the median of $53,990 goes as far as $58,179 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 6.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$53,990as reported by BLSLocal price level
92.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$58,179US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $53,990 a year, 13.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,370 to $89,960 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 4,000 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 43rd of 51 states for 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 Ohio?
The median annual wage is $53,990, or $25.96 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 Ohio is 13.6% 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 Ohio earns more than $89,960 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,370 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 4,000 jobs in this occupation in Ohio. 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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