What does a Food Preparation Workers salary really buy you in Ohio?
Ohio is 8.5% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-06
Ohio's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.5, meaning prices are 8.5% lower the national average. A Food Preparation Workers earning $29,040 in Ohio has the equivalent purchasing power of $31,737 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Ohio's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $22,830 | $24,950 | +$2,120 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $25,190 | $27,530 | +$2,340 |
| Median (P50) | $29,040 | $31,737 | +$2,697 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $34,470 | $37,672 | +$3,202 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $37,540 | $41,027 | +$3,487 |
A Food Preparation Workers in Ohio earns $29,040 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $31,737 in an average-cost state. This makes Ohio one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Food Preparation Workers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Ohio ranks #30 out of 51 states for Food Preparation Workers after cost-of-living adjustment.
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How much do you actually take home? See Food Preparation Workers take-home pay in Ohio after taxes →
A Food Preparation Workers in Ohio earns a median salary of $29,040 per year. After adjusting for Ohio's cost of living (RPP=91.5), the real purchasing power is $31,737 — a +9.3% difference.
Ohio's cost of living is 8.5% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Ohio is 91.5 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Food Preparation Workers in Ohio: $29,040 x (100 / 91.5) = $31,737. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Food Preparation Workers in Ohio enjoys 9.3% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.