Restaurant Cook Salary in Columbus, OH
Updated
The median restaurant cook in the Columbus area earns $36,590 a year ($17.59 an hour), 2% below the U.S. median ($37,390) and 3% above the Ohio median ($35,540). Half of the 8,600 restaurant cooks there earn between $31,200 and $38,680.
Median $36,590
10th: $28,96090th: $45,910
| Annual pay | Columbus area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,960 | $27,590 | $28,700 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $29,520 | $34,010 |
| Median | $36,590 | $35,540 | $37,390 |
| 75th percentile | $38,680 | $37,920 | $44,620 |
| 90th percentile | $45,910 | $44,940 | $47,900 |
| Average | $36,910 | $35,280 | $38,730 |
| Jobs | 8,600 | 46,910 | 1,409,890 |
Columbus, OH ranks 39th of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas for restaurant cook pay. Highest: Seattle, WA ($47,730).
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Check my payRestaurant cook pay in other cities
- Cleveland, OH: $37,060
- Cincinnati, OH: $36,030
- Seattle, WA: $47,730
- San Jose, CA: $47,170
- San Diego, CA: $46,440
- San Francisco, CA: $46,030
- Boston, MA: $45,830
- Portland, OR: $45,200
- All cities
Similar jobs in Columbus, OH
- Food Preparation Worker: $36,930
- Fast Food Worker: $28,670
- Waiter: $37,490
- Food Service Supervisor: $37,790
- Bartender: $37,000
- All jobs in Columbus, OH
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, published May 15, 2026
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, www.bls.gov/oes. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.