Cooks, Short Order salary in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
Cooks, Short Order in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn a median of $32,180 a year ($15.47 an hour), based on BLS data for 580 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,410 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 10% higher than the Ohio statewide median of $29,290. There are 0.53 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.59). The average (mean) salary is $32,390, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,520 | $11.79 |
| 25th percentile | $28,940 | $13.91 |
| Median | $32,180 | $15.47 |
| 75th percentile | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,410 | $18.47 |
| Average (mean) | $32,390 | $15.57 |
Half of cooks, short order 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 | $2,681.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,340.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,237.69 |
| Weekly | $618.85 |
| Hourly | $15.47 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Short Order salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $39,040 | 130 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $37,440 | 1,780 |
| Columbus, OH | $35,200 | 1,100 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $31,450 | n/a |
| Akron, OH | $31,430 | 240 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $30,240 | 170 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $30,170 | 100 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $29,630 | 260 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $29,350 | 180 |
| Bloomington, IN | $29,030 | 60 |
| Kokomo, IN | $28,670 | 30 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $28,430 | 70 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $28,390 | 40 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $28,200 | n/a |
| Muncie, IN | $28,030 | 50 |
| Toledo, OH | $27,970 | 290 |
| Springfield, OH | $27,600 | 50 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $27,590 | 40 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $27,590 | 70 |
| Sandusky, OH | $27,560 | 110 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $26,470 | 80 |
| Cleveland, OH | $22,260 | 1,610 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $21,940 | 50 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $21,440 | n/a |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
See Cooks, Short Order pay in every state or the Ohio statewide figures.
Related jobs in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,030 | $17.32 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,930 | $13.91 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,180 | $17.87 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,720 | $14.29 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,530 | $17.56 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,370 | $18.45 |
| Bartender | $34,240 | $16.46 |
| 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 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $56,620 | $27.22 |
| 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 35-2015. 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 cooks, short order make in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area is $32,180 a year, or $15.47 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,410 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn at least $38,410 a year. The top 25% earn $36,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,520 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $28,940 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
About 580 cooks, short order are employed in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.