Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Kentucky
Chefs and Head Cooks in Kentucky earn a median of $48,070 a year ($23.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,790 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,410 for the top 10%. That is 23% lower than the national median of $62,470. Kentucky ranks 48th of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay. There are 0.90 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.70). The average (mean) salary is $55,770, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,550 | $15.17 |
| 25th percentile | $36,850 | $17.71 |
| Median | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| 75th percentile | $66,770 | $32.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,410 | $42.50 |
| Average (mean) | $55,770 | $26.81 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,005.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,002.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,848.85 |
| Weekly | $924.42 |
| Hourly | $23.11 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in cities in Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $60,880 | 100 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $56,790 | 270 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $56,620 | 1,060 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $54,080 | 50 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $53,240 | 80 |
| Owensboro, KY | $47,620 | 30 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $46,310 | 750 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $44,720 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
Related jobs in Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $35,810 | $17.21 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,130 | $13.04 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,660 | $14.26 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $23,500 | $11.30 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $26,850 | $12.91 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,640 | $16.65 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $31,550 | $15.17 |
| Bartender | $28,780 | $13.84 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,100 | $13.03 |
| Dishwasher | $29,060 | $13.97 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $32,200 | $15.48 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,330 | $12.66 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,840 | $15.31 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Kentucky
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Kentucky?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in Kentucky is $48,070 a year, or $23.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,410 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in Kentucky earn at least $88,410 a year. The top 25% earn $66,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,550 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $36,850 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Kentucky?
About 1,790 chefs and head cooks are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.