SOC 35-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Fast Food — Ohio
Ohio · 10 metro areas compared
In Ohio the median wage is $26,870.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Ohio the median wage is $26,870. That is 13.0% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay ranges from under $22,500 at the tenth percentile to more than $35,570 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $23,070 to $29,710.
Employment stands at 12,310, or 2.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Ohio ranks number 46th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Cleveland records the highest median at $29,120. Of the 774 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 772nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,500 | −27.2% |
| 25th | $23,070 | −25.3% |
| Median (50th) | $26,870 | −13.0% |
| 75th | $29,710 | −3.8% |
| 90th | $35,570 | +15.2% |
| Mean | $27,860 | −9.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Ohio
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland | $29,120 | — | |
| 2 | Cincinnati | $28,930 | 4,930 | |
| 3 | Dayton | $26,950 | 580 | |
| 4 | Mansfield | $26,360 | 180 | |
| 5 | Canton | $26,300 | — | |
| 6 | Akron | $26,270 | 960 | |
| 7 | Lima | $26,210 | 140 | |
| 8 | Springfield | $25,980 | 180 | |
| 9 | Columbus | $25,290 | 2,210 | |
| 10 | Toledo | $22,560 | 850 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Ohio run 7.2% below the national average, so the median of $26,870 goes as far as $28,955 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 6.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$26,870as reported by BLSLocal price level
92.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$28,955US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $26,870 a year, 13.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $22,500 to $35,570 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 12,310 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 46th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Cleveland, at $29,120.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Ohio?
The median annual wage is $26,870, or $12.92 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 $30,890, so pay in Ohio is 13.0% 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 $35,570 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $22,500 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 Cleveland, at $29,120 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 12,310 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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