Cooks, Fast Food pay range in Cincinnati
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,860 a year or less, while the top 10% make $37,130 or more. The middle half of cooks, fast food in Cincinnati earn between $26,520 and $30,540.
- $23K10th
- $27K25th
- $29KMedian
- $31K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $29,430 | $2,452 | $14.15 |
| Median | $28,930 | $2,411 | $13.91 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $26,520 | $2,210 | $12.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $30,540 | $2,545 | $14.68 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Fast Food pay in Cincinnati vs. Ohio and the U.S.
Cooks, fast food in Cincinnati earn 6% more than the Ohio average ($27,860) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($32,390). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $30,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | $29,430 | $28,930 | $22,860 | $37,130 | 4,930 |
| Ohio | $27,860 | $26,870 | $22,500 | $35,570 | 12,310 |
| United States | $32,390 | $30,890 | $22,580 | $42,910 | 641,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Fast Food salary after taxes in Cincinnati
On the average salary of $29,430, a single filer in Cincinnati takes home about $24,937 a year, or $2,078 a month and $959 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% 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 | $24,974 | $2,081 |
| Working in OH | $24,937 | $2,078 |
| Working in KY | $24,915 | $2,076 |
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, fast food? 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 $29,430 buys what about $30,859 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Cincinnati ($50,170). A typical home costs $311,270, or 10.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other Ohio cities
Cincinnati ranks 2nd of 10 Ohio metro areas for this job; Dayton pays the most ($29,840).
Highest-paying cities for cooks, fast food
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($46,590).
- San Francisco, CA$46,590
- San Jose, CA$46,530
- Vallejo, CA$44,360
- Napa, CA$43,910
- Seattle, WA$43,770
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Cooks, Fast Food salary in Cincinnati: questions
How much do cooks, fast food make an hour in Cincinnati?
$14.15 an hour on average, and $13.91 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, fast food salary in Cincinnati?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,860 a year and the 25th percentile is $26,520, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, fast food take-home pay in Cincinnati?
About $24,937 a year ($2,078 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $29,430. 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, fast food earn more in Cincinnati than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% less than the U.S. average for this job ($32,390).
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 35-2011; area Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN (17140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- 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 1.09, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.