SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — Ohio
Ohio · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Ohio is $34,530 per year, close to the national median of $35,320 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Ohio is $34,530 per year, close to the national median of $35,320 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $26,640 at the tenth percentile to more than $44,500 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $28,930 to $38,070.
Employment stands at 19,480, or 3.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Ohio ranks 27th by median wage. Columbus leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $36,930. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 732nd of 774 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26,640 | −24.6% |
| 25th | $28,930 | −18.1% |
| Median (50th) | $34,530 | −2.2% |
| 75th | $38,070 | +7.8% |
| 90th | $44,500 | +26.0% |
| Mean | $34,560 | −2.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Ohio
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbus | $36,930 | 3,210 | |
| 2 | Cleveland | $35,360 | 4,410 | |
| 3 | Toledo | $35,260 | 950 | |
| 4 | Akron | $35,010 | 1,110 | |
| 5 | Cincinnati | $34,320 | 5,320 | |
| 6 | Mansfield | $34,270 | 200 | |
| 7 | Sandusky | $34,080 | 270 | |
| 8 | Dayton | $33,110 | 1,060 | |
| 9 | Springfield | $31,840 | 160 | |
| 10 | Canton | $31,420 | 810 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Ohio run 7.2% below the national average, so the median of $34,530 goes as far as $37,209 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 5.3% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$34,530as reported by BLSLocal price level
92.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$37,209US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $34,530 a year, 2.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $26,640 to $44,500 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 19,480 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 27th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Columbus, at $36,930.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Ohio?
The median annual wage is $34,530, or $16.60 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 $35,320, so pay in Ohio is 2.2% 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 $44,500 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $26,640 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 Columbus, at $36,930 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 19,480 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.
Explore related data