How much does a cook make in Bowling Green?
$31,550a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Bowling Green, KY metro area. That is $15.17 an hour or $2,629 a month.
- Hourly
- $15.17
- Vs. national median
- -16%
- Rank among cities
- 328 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 530
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $25,580Median: $31,550Highest 10%: $38,750
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $25,580 | $12.30 | |
| 25th | $30,850 | $14.83 | |
| Median | $31,550 | $15.17 | |
| 75th | $33,160 | $15.94 | |
| 90th | $38,750 | $18.63 |
Other cities in Kentucky
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Louisville, KY | $37,370 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $37,180 |
| Lexington, KY | $36,470 |
| Clarksville, TN | $35,570 |
| Paducah, KY | $35,310 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $30,260 |
| Owensboro, KY | $30,170 |
| Huntington, WV | $29,630 |
Related jobs in Bowling Green
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $54,080 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $38,150 |
| Food Server | $34,040 |
| Cook | $31,040 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $28,810 |
| Dishwasher | $28,740 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $27,650 |
| Bartender | $26,800 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $26,410 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $26,200 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Bowling Green?
The median hourly pay in the Bowling Green, KY metro area is $15.17 ($31,550 a year).
Do cooks make more in Bowling Green than the national average?
No: $31,550 against $37,450 nationally, 16% less.
How does Bowling Green compare with the rest of Kentucky?
The median in Kentucky is $31,550, so Bowling Green pays 0% more.
Where does Bowling Green rank for cook pay?
328 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Bowling Green?
The lowest-paid 10% make $25,580 or less a year; the top 10% make $38,750 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.