Cooks, Restaurant salary in Paducah, KY-IL
Cooks, Restaurant in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area earn a median of $31,200 a year ($15.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 490 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,150 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 9.7 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $32,510, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Paducah, KY-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,770 | $12.87 |
| 25th percentile | $29,010 | $13.95 |
| Median | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 75th percentile | $36,150 | $17.38 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,150 | $17.86 |
| 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 | $2,600 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,300 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,200 |
| Weekly | $600 |
| Hourly | $15.00 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $38,930 | 41,690 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $37,690 | 12,970 |
| Springfield, IL | $36,550 | 850 |
| Decatur, IL | $36,440 | 320 |
| Rockford, IL | $36,200 | 1,130 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $36,040 | 970 |
| Peoria, IL | $36,040 | 1,420 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,030 | 10,810 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $35,970 | 2,300 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $35,950 | 5,390 |
| Kankakee, IL | $35,560 | 320 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $35,480 | 1,560 |
| Bloomington, IL | $35,310 | 850 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $34,870 | 380 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $34,840 | 880 |
| 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 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Paducah, KY-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,210 | $13.08 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,310 | $16.98 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,640 | $13.29 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,280 | $14.08 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $35,210 | $16.93 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,440 | $12.71 |
| Bartender | $26,350 | $12.67 |
| Dishwasher | $29,520 | $14.19 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,030 | $13.00 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $44,720 | $21.50 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Paducah, KY-IL
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 Paducah, KY-IL?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area is $31,200 a year, or $15.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Paducah, KY-IL?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area earn at least $37,150 a year. The top 25% earn $36,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Paducah, KY-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,770 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $29,010 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Paducah, KY-IL?
About 490 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.