Cooks, Short Order salary in Bowling Green, KY
Cooks, Short Order in the Bowling Green, KY metro area earn a median of $27,590 a year ($13.26 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,210 for the top 10%. That is 23% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 13% lower than the Kentucky statewide median of $31,840. There are 0.50 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.56). The average (mean) salary is $29,550, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Bowling Green, KY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,990 | $11.05 |
| 25th percentile | $22,990 | $11.05 |
| Median | $27,590 | $13.26 |
| 75th percentile | $37,180 | $17.87 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,210 | $18.37 |
| Average (mean) | $29,550 | $14.21 |
Half of cooks, short order 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 | $2,299.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,149.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,061.15 |
| Weekly | $530.58 |
| Hourly | $13.26 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Short Order salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $39,040 | 130 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $32,180 | 580 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $30,170 | 100 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $29,630 | 260 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $26,470 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
See Cooks, Short Order 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, Restaurant | $31,040 | $14.92 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $31,550 | $15.17 |
| 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 35-2015. 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, short order make in Bowling Green, KY?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Bowling Green, KY metro area is $27,590 a year, or $13.26 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Bowling Green, KY?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Bowling Green, KY metro area earn at least $38,210 a year. The top 25% earn $37,180 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Bowling Green, KY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,990 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $22,990 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Bowling Green, KY?
About 40 cooks, short order are employed in the Bowling Green, KY metro area, not counting the self-employed.