How much does a cook make in Dayton?
$28,200a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metro area. That is $13.56 an hour or $2,350 a month.
- Hourly
- $13.56
- Vs. national median
- -21%
- Rank among cities
- 186 of 237
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $23,350Median: $28,200Highest 10%: $35,570
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,350 | $11.23 | |
| 25th | $25,470 | $12.25 | |
| Median | $28,200 | $13.56 | |
| 75th | $34,590 | $16.63 | |
| 90th | $35,570 | $17.10 |
Other cities in Ohio
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Columbus, OH | $35,200 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $32,180 |
| Canton, OH | $31,450 |
| Akron, OH | $31,430 |
| Youngstown, OH | $29,350 |
| Toledo, OH | $27,970 |
| Springfield, OH | $27,600 |
| Wheeling, WV | $27,590 |
| Sandusky, OH | $27,560 |
| Huntington, WV | $26,470 |
| Cleveland, OH | $22,260 |
Related jobs in Dayton
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $47,580 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $36,680 |
| Cook | $36,680 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $36,600 |
| Cook | $35,700 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,110 |
| Food Server | $31,200 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $30,020 |
| Bartender | $29,830 |
| Dishwasher | $29,580 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Dayton?
The median hourly pay in the Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metro area is $13.56 ($28,200 a year).
Do cooks make more in Dayton than the national average?
No: $28,200 against $35,880 nationally, 21% less.
How does Dayton compare with the rest of Ohio?
The median in Ohio is $29,290, so Dayton pays 4% less.
Where does Dayton rank for cook pay?
186 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Dayton?
The lowest-paid 10% make $23,350 or less a year; the top 10% make $35,570 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.