How much does a chef and head cook make in Lexington?
$56,790a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area. That is $27.30 an hour or $4,733 a month.
- Hourly
- $27.30
- Vs. national median
- -9%
- Rank among cities
- 213 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 270
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $36,030Median: $56,790Highest 10%: $109,400
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,030 | $17.32 | |
| 25th | $40,350 | $19.40 | |
| Median | $56,790 | $27.30 | |
| 75th | $71,020 | $34.14 | |
| 90th | $109,400 | $52.59 |
Other cities in Kentucky
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks.
| Clarksville, TN | $60,880 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $56,620 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $54,080 |
| Huntington, WV | $53,240 |
| Louisville, KY | $46,310 |
Related jobs in Lexington
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Cook | $39,040 |
| Cook | $36,470 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $36,350 |
| Cook | $35,970 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $34,910 |
| Dishwasher | $31,110 |
| Bartender | $30,640 |
| Food Server | $30,430 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $27,990 |
| Host and Hostess | $27,920 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in Lexington?
The median hourly pay in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area is $27.30 ($56,790 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in Lexington than the national average?
No: $56,790 against $62,470 nationally, 9% less.
How does Lexington compare with the rest of Kentucky?
The median in Kentucky is $48,070, so Lexington pays 18% more.
Where does Lexington rank for chef and head cook pay?
213 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% make $36,030 or less a year; the top 10% make $109,400 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.