Food Preparation Workers Salary
Food Preparation Workers in Ohio make a median of $34,530 a year, or about $16.6 an hour. The range runs from $27K at the entry level to $45K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $37,758 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,188/month, about 50.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $35K get you in Ohio?
About food preparation workers
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What this looks like in Ohio
Food preparation workers pay in Ohio tracks closely to the national median, $35K locally vs. $35K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,188/month, which is 48.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ohio
Entry-level food preparation workers (10th percentile) start around $27K. Mid-career wages sit at $35K. Top earners bring in $45K or more, a $18K spread from bottom to top.
Food Preparation Workers salary by metro in Ohio
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $37K | +7% | 3,210 |
| Cleveland | $35K | +2% | 4,410 |
| Toledo | $35K | +2% | 950 |
| Akron | $35K | +1% | 1,110 |
| Cincinnati | $34K | -1% | 5,320 |
| Mansfield | $34K | -1% | 200 |
| Sandusky | $34K | -1% | 270 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $33K | -4% | 1,060 |
| Springfield | $32K | -8% | 160 |
| Canton-Massillon | $31K | -9% | 810 |
| Youngstown-Warren | $30K | -12% | 720 |
| Lima | $30K | -14% | 230 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
Compare to other states
Track food preparation workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food preparation worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $35K, rent takes 48.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for food preparation workers in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food preparation workers typically earn — is $27K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,598/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 74% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is food preparation worker a high-paying job in Ohio?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $35K locally vs. $35K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for food preparation workers?
Ohio pays $35K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $38K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do food preparation workers make in Ohio?
The median is $34,530 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $26,640, and experienced food preparation workers can clear $44,500. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $35K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,462/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 48.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a food preparation workers salary go in Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median food preparation workers salary is worth about $37,758 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do food preparation workers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.