Cooks, Restaurant salary in Bowling Green, KY
Cooks, Restaurant in the Bowling Green, KY metro area earn a median of $31,040 a year ($14.92 an hour), based on BLS data for 570 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,480 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 10% lower than the Kentucky statewide median of $34,640. There are 6.9 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.76). The average (mean) salary is $32,510, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Bowling Green, KY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,980 | $11.53 |
| 25th percentile | $28,700 | $13.80 |
| Median | $31,040 | $14.92 |
| 75th percentile | $36,000 | $17.31 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,480 | $18.98 |
| Average (mean) | $32,510 | $15.63 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $2,586.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,293.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,193.85 |
| Weekly | $596.92 |
| Hourly | $14.92 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,030 | 10,810 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $35,970 | 2,300 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $35,950 | 5,390 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $34,840 | 880 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $31,200 | 490 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $30,120 | 370 |
| Owensboro, KY | $30,010 | 440 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $29,550 | 1,090 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Bowling Green, KY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $23,450 | $11.28 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $26,410 | $12.70 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $31,550 | $15.17 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,590 | $13.26 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,650 | $13.30 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,810 | $13.85 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,150 | $18.34 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $24,500 | $11.78 |
| Bartender | $26,800 | $12.88 |
| Dishwasher | $28,740 | $13.82 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,200 | $12.59 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,040 | $16.37 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $54,080 | $26.00 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Bowling Green, KY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2014. 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 cooks, restaurant make in Bowling Green, KY?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Bowling Green, KY metro area is $31,040 a year, or $14.92 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Bowling Green, KY?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Bowling Green, KY metro area earn at least $39,480 a year. The top 25% earn $36,000 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Bowling Green, KY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,980 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $28,700 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Bowling Green, KY?
About 570 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Bowling Green, KY metro area, not counting the self-employed.