SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Southern Ohio
Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Southern Ohio, OH is $29,920 a year, trailing the national median of $37,390 by 20.0%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Southern Ohio, OH is $29,920 a year, trailing the national median of $37,390 by 20.0%. Half of workers earn between $28,190 and $35,990. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $24,910 and the ninetieth at $37,350.
The area has 1,460 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.99 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Cleveland leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $37,060. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 352nd of 378 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $24,910 | −33.4% |
| 25th | $28,190 | −24.6% |
| Median (50th) | $29,920 | −20.0% |
| 75th | $35,990 | −3.7% |
| 90th | $37,350 | −0.1% |
| Mean | $32,220 | −13.8% |
Other metro areas in Ohio
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland | $37,060 | 8,190 | |
| 2 | Columbus | $36,590 | 8,600 | |
| 3 | Akron | $36,030 | 2,820 | |
| 4 | Cincinnati | $36,030 | 10,810 | |
| 5 | Dayton | $35,700 | 2,960 | |
| 6 | Canton | $35,600 | 1,570 | |
| 7 | Toledo | $35,560 | 2,920 | |
| 8 | Sandusky | $35,250 | 910 | |
| 9 | Springfield | $34,490 | 320 | |
| 10 | Lima | $34,200 | 380 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Southern Ohio run 7.2% below the national average, so the median of $29,920 goes as far as $32,241 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 13.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$29,920as reported by BLSLocal price level
92.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$32,241US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $29,920 a year, 20.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $24,910 to $37,350 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,460 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Cleveland, at $37,060.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Southern Ohio, OH?
The median annual wage is $29,920, or $14.38 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 $37,390, so pay in Southern Ohio, OH is 20.0% 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 Southern Ohio, OH earns more than $37,350 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $24,910 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 $37,060 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,460 jobs in this occupation in Southern Ohio, 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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