Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Ohio
Cooks, Fast Food in Ohio have a median of $26,870 a year, below the national $30,890 (−13%); the state ranks 46th of 51 states by median. That is 46% less than the median across all occupations in Ohio ($49,380). Among neighbouring states, Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania pay more (up to $29,870 in Indiana) and Kentucky and West Virginia pay less (down to $23,120 in West Virginia). Ohio employs 12,310 cooks, fast food, 2.22 per 1,000 jobs, the 14th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.54 means it is less common in Ohio than nationally.
Ohio vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $10.82 | $11.09 | $12.92 | $14.29 | $17.10 | $13.40 | 12,310 | 2.22 | 0.54 |
| Annual | $22,500 | $23,070 | $26,870 | $29,710 | $35,570 | $27,860 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $10.86 | $13.11 | $14.85 | $17.92 | $20.63 | $15.57 | 641,070 | – | – |
| Annual | $22,580 | $27,260 | $30,890 | $37,260 | $42,910 | $32,390 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 46th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 14th of 49 states
- Location quotient
- 0.54
- Jobs per 1,000
- 2.22
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Ohio's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Ohio
13 metropolitan areas and 3 nonmetropolitan areas touching Ohio publish a row for cooks, fast food, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OH | $14.00 | $29,120 | $23,490 | $35,880 | ** | ** | ** |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $13.91 | $28,930 | $22,860 | $37,130 | 4,930 | 4.48 | 1.09 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $12.96 | $26,950 | $24,500 | $36,080 | 580 | 1.56 | 0.38 |
| Mansfield, OH | $12.68 | $26,360 | $22,260 | $33,300 | 180 | 3.64 | 0.88 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $12.65 | $26,300 | $22,470 | $35,110 | ** | ** | ** |
| Akron, OH | $12.63 | $26,270 | $22,990 | $29,070 | 960 | 3.01 | 0.73 |
| Lima, OH | $12.60 | $26,210 | $22,460 | $34,350 | 140 | 2.86 | 0.69 |
| Springfield, OH | $12.49 | $25,980 | $22,290 | $34,550 | 180 | 3.92 | 0.95 |
| Columbus, OH | $12.16 | $25,290 | $23,070 | $36,060 | 2,210 | 2.00 | 0.48 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $11.40 | $23,710 | $22,470 | $28,050 | 450 | 12.51 | 3.03 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $11.11 | $23,110 | $22,120 | $28,180 | 810 | 13.92 | 3.38 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $10.87 | $22,610 | $21,010 | $27,680 | 3,070 | 21.82 | 5.29 |
| Toledo, OH | $10.85 | $22,560 | $22,260 | $34,570 | 850 | 2.91 | 0.71 |
| West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $12.71 | $26,440 | $22,620 | $28,500 | ** | ** | ** |
| North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $11.08 | $23,040 | $22,290 | $35,040 | 890 | 3.59 | 0.87 |
| Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $11.01 | $22,890 | $22,690 | $26,440 | 730 | 5.34 | 1.30 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | $12.92 | $26,870 | 12,310 | 0.54 |
| Indiana | $14.36 | $29,870 | 6,830 | 0.52 |
| Kentucky | $11.30 | $23,500 | 21,750 | 2.64 |
| Michigan | $14.17 | $29,460 | 14,340 | 0.79 |
| Pennsylvania | $13.85 | $28,810 | 9,240 | 0.37 |
| West Virginia | $11.12 | $23,120 | 16,490 | 5.70 |
See the national page for Cooks, Fast Food (every state ranked) and the Ohio wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Ohio estimates.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.