Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn a median of $56,620 a year ($27.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,060 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,610 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 5% higher than the Ohio statewide median of $53,990. There are 0.97 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.75). The average (mean) salary is $60,450, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,240 | $18.39 |
| 25th percentile | $46,300 | $22.26 |
| Median | $56,620 | $27.22 |
| 75th percentile | $74,130 | $35.64 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,610 | $40.20 |
| Average (mean) | $60,450 | $29.06 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,718.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,359.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,177.69 |
| Weekly | $1,088.85 |
| Hourly | $27.22 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Terre Haute, IN | $85,920 | 50 |
| Sandusky, OH | $67,190 | 60 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $60,880 | 100 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $60,770 | 6,840 |
| Columbus, OH | $59,830 | 750 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $57,180 | 80 |
| Cleveland, OH | $57,020 | 930 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $56,790 | 270 |
| Akron, OH | $55,060 | 220 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $54,400 | 30 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $54,080 | 50 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $53,570 | 120 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $53,240 | 80 |
| Bloomington, IN | $52,760 | 100 |
| Toledo, OH | $50,790 | 220 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $49,730 | 110 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $49,490 | 120 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $49,010 | 960 |
| Owensboro, KY | $47,620 | 30 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $47,580 | 210 |
| Evansville, IN | $46,480 | 90 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $46,310 | 750 |
| Lima, OH | $45,270 | 30 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $44,720 | 40 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $40,300 | 60 |
| Muncie, IN | $37,920 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the Ohio statewide figures.
Related jobs in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,370 | $18.45 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,720 | $14.29 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,530 | $17.56 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,030 | $17.32 |
| Bartender | $34,240 | $16.46 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,930 | $13.91 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,180 | $17.87 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,350 | $14.11 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $32,070 | $15.42 |
| Dishwasher | $30,740 | $14.78 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,890 | $14.37 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $32,180 | $15.47 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $28,090 | $13.50 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area is $56,620 a year, or $27.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn at least $83,610 a year. The top 25% earn $74,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,240 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $46,300 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
About 1,060 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.