Cleveland, OH · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Cleveland, OH

In the Cleveland, OH metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $36,000 ($17.31/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $27,900/year and the 90th was $45,500/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Ohio tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $30,566 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 93.9 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$36,000$17.31 per hour · $3,000 monthly
10th Percentile$27,900$13.41/hr base
25th Percentile$29,900$14.38/hr base
75th Percentile$38,400$18.46/hr base
90th Percentile$45,500$21.88/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$36,000
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$36,000
Net 85%
Fed 6%
OH 1%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$30,566After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,547Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,176Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15.1%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,140 / yr
Ohio state income tax$540 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,754 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Cleveland, OH

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Cooks, Restaurant in the Cleveland, OH Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (OH)
10th Percentile$13.41/hr$2,325$27,900$24,586
25th Percentile$14.38/hr$2,492$29,900$25,833
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$17.31/hr$3,000$36,000$30,566
75th Percentile$18.46/hr$3,200$38,400$32,429
90th Percentile$21.88/hr$3,792$45,500$37,932

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Cleveland, OH

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$36,000 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$70,678Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index93.96.1% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio50.9%of area median income

Compare restaurant cooks salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Ohio:

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Cleveland, OH

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Cleveland, OH?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Cleveland, OH is $36,000, which equates to approximately $3,000 per month or $17.31 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Cleveland, OH?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Cleveland, OH is $17.31 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $13.41/hour and one in ten earned more than $21.88/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Cleveland, OH?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Cleveland, OH span from $27,900 at the 10th percentile to $29,900 at the 25th, $38,400 at the 75th, and $45,500 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Cleveland, OH?

On a median gross salary of $36,000, an estimated $30,566 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,176 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Ohio in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,434 (an effective rate of 15.1%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Cleveland, OH?

On the median annual salary of $36,000, gross monthly income is $3,000. After federal, FICA, and Ohio state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,547 per month (or $1,176 every two weeks).

Is $36,000 a good salary in Cleveland, OH?

At $36,000, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 50.9% of the Cleveland, OH median household income ($70,678). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 93.9, making regional consumer goods and services 6.1% cheaper than the U.S. average.