Cooks, Restaurant salary in Elizabethtown, KY
Cooks, Restaurant in the Elizabethtown, KY metro area earn a median of $30,120 a year ($14.48 an hour), based on BLS data for 370 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,270 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 13% lower than the Kentucky statewide median of $34,640. There are 7.1 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.78). The average (mean) salary is $31,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Elizabethtown, KY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,470 | $11.28 |
| 25th percentile | $28,050 | $13.49 |
| Median | $30,120 | $14.48 |
| 75th percentile | $35,720 | $17.18 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,270 | $17.92 |
| Average (mean) | $31,580 | $15.18 |
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 | $2,510 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,255 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,158.46 |
| Weekly | $579.23 |
| Hourly | $14.48 |
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 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $31,040 | 570 |
| 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 Elizabethtown, KY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $23,870 | $11.48 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $23,600 | $11.35 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $30,260 | $14.55 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,260 | $13.11 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,270 | $14.55 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $25,370 | $12.20 |
| Bartender | $26,620 | $12.80 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $25,720 | $12.36 |
| Dishwasher | $27,870 | $13.40 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Elizabethtown, 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 Elizabethtown, KY?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Elizabethtown, KY metro area is $30,120 a year, or $14.48 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,270 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Elizabethtown, KY?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Elizabethtown, KY metro area earn at least $37,270 a year. The top 25% earn $35,720 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Elizabethtown, KY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,470 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $28,050 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Elizabethtown, KY?
About 370 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Elizabethtown, KY metro area, not counting the self-employed.