Cooks, Restaurant salary in Kentucky
Cooks, Restaurant in Kentucky earn a median of $34,640 a year ($16.65 an hour), based on BLS data for 13,510 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,750 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $37,390. Kentucky ranks 45th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 6.8 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.74). The average (mean) salary is $33,700, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,750 | $11.90 |
| 25th percentile | $28,850 | $13.87 |
| Median | $34,640 | $16.65 |
| 75th percentile | $37,200 | $17.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,750 | $21.03 |
| Average (mean) | $33,700 | $16.20 |
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 | $2,886.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,443.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,332.31 |
| Weekly | $666.15 |
| Hourly | $16.65 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in cities in Kentucky
| 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 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $23,500 | $11.30 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $26,850 | $12.91 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $31,550 | $15.17 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,130 | $13.04 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,660 | $14.26 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $35,810 | $17.21 |
| 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 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $48,070 | $23.11 |
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 35-2014. 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 Kentucky?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Kentucky is $34,640 a year, or $16.65 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,750 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Kentucky earn at least $43,750 a year. The top 25% earn $37,200 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,750 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $28,850 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Kentucky?
About 13,510 cooks, restaurant are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.