Cooks, Restaurant pay range in Cincinnati
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,250 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,880 or more. The middle half of cooks, restaurant in Cincinnati earn between $29,200 and $37,890.
- $27K10th
- $29K25th
- $36KMedian
- $38K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,010 | $2,918 | $16.83 |
| Median | $36,030 | $3,002 | $17.32 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,200 | $2,433 | $14.04 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,890 | $3,158 | $18.22 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Cooks, Restaurant salary after taxes in Cincinnati
On the average salary of $35,010, a single filer in Cincinnati takes home about $29,167 a year, or $2,431 a month and $1,122 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
The Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $29,290 | $2,441 |
| Working in KY | $29,203 | $2,434 |
| Working in OH | $29,167 | $2,431 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Cincinnati's local income tax (1.8%); the city income tax is that of the principal city (suburbs have their own rates) and school district income taxes are not included.
Is Cincinnati a good place for cooks, restaurant? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Cincinnati area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.4), so the average $35,010 buys what about $36,710 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Cincinnati ($50,170). A typical home costs $311,270, or 8.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other Ohio cities
Cincinnati ranks 6th of 12 Ohio metro areas for this job; Cleveland pays the most ($37,330).
Highest-paying cities for cooks, restaurant
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($54,460).
- Kahului, HI$54,460
- San Jose, CA$49,390
- Seattle, WA$49,000
- San Francisco, CA$48,630
- Napa, CA$47,830
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Cooks, Restaurant salary in Cincinnati: questions
How much do cooks, restaurant make an hour in Cincinnati?
$16.83 an hour on average, and $17.32 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, restaurant salary in Cincinnati?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,250 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, restaurant take-home pay in Cincinnati?
About $29,167 a year ($2,431 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,010. Includes Cincinnati's local income tax (1.8%); the city income tax is that of the principal city (suburbs have their own rates) and school district income taxes are not included.
Do cooks, restaurant earn more in Cincinnati than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($39,073).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2014; area Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN (17140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Cincinnati's local income tax (1.8%); the city income tax is that of the principal city (suburbs have their own rates) and school district income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.08, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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