Cooks, Restaurant pay in Kentucky
In Kentucky, the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $16.65 an hour ($34,640 a year). About 13,510 people work in this job there.
That is 7% lower than the U.S. median ($37,390). Kentucky ranks 45th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Kentucky
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $11.90 | $24,750 |
| 25% of workers | $13.87 | $28,850 |
| Half of workers (median) | $16.65 | $34,640 |
| 75% of workers | $17.88 | $37,200 |
| 90% of workers | $21.03 | $43,750 |
Cooks, Restaurant pay in Kentucky metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette | $35,970 | 2,300 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $35,950 | 5,390 |
| Paducah | $31,200 | 490 |
| Bowling Green | $31,040 | 570 |
| Elizabethtown | $30,120 | 370 |
| Owensboro | $30,010 | 440 |
Kentucky unemployment rate: 4.7% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for cooks, restaurant
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 3 to 6 months (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +12.1% over ten years, much faster than average · about 218,600 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Kentucky
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $23,500 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $26,850 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $31,550 |
| Food Batchmakers | $46,900 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $48,070 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $35,430 |
| Bakers | $33,890 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,840 |
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.