Cooks, Fast Food pay in Louisville/Jefferson County
In Louisville/Jefferson County (KY), the median pay for cooks, fast food is $12.98 an hour ($26,990 a year). About 5,060 people work in this job there.
That is 13% lower than the U.S. median ($30,890). It is 15% higher than the Kentucky median ($23,500).
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Louisville/Jefferson County (KY)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $10.57 | $21,990 |
| 25% of workers | $10.62 | $22,080 |
| Half of workers (median) | $12.98 | $26,990 |
| 75% of workers | $13.77 | $28,640 |
| 90% of workers | $16.85 | $35,050 |
Cooks, Fast Food pay in Kentucky metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County (this page) | $26,990 | 5,060 |
| Lexington-Fayette | $26,840 | 3,040 |
| Elizabethtown | $23,870 | 660 |
| Bowling Green | $23,450 | 820 |
| Owensboro | $22,260 | 620 |
Kentucky unemployment rate: 4.7% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for cooks, fast food
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: None (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +0.6% over ten years, little or no change · about 86,400 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Louisville/Jefferson County (KY)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,690 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,950 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $29,640 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,370 |
| Food Batchmakers | $46,540 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.