How much does a chef and head cook make in Louisville?
$46,310a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area. That is $22.26 an hour or $3,859 a month.
- Hourly
- $22.26
- Vs. national median
- -26%
- Rank among cities
- 308 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 750
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $35,710Median: $46,310Highest 10%: $94,990
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,710 | $17.17 | |
| 25th | $36,850 | $17.72 | |
| Median | $46,310 | $22.26 | |
| 75th | $64,480 | $31.00 | |
| 90th | $94,990 | $45.67 |
Other cities in Kentucky
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks.
| Clarksville, TN | $60,880 |
| Lexington, KY | $56,790 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $56,620 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $54,080 |
| Huntington, WV | $53,240 |
Related jobs in Louisville
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $38,800 |
| Cook | $37,370 |
| Cook | $35,950 |
| Food Server | $31,780 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $30,180 |
| Dishwasher | $29,770 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,640 |
| Cook | $29,630 |
| Bartender | $29,120 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $28,690 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in Louisville?
The median hourly pay in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area is $22.26 ($46,310 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in Louisville than the national average?
No: $46,310 against $62,470 nationally, 26% less.
How does Louisville compare with the rest of Kentucky?
The median in Kentucky is $48,070, so Louisville pays 4% less.
Where does Louisville rank for chef and head cook pay?
308 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in Louisville?
The lowest-paid 10% make $35,710 or less a year; the top 10% make $94,990 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.