How much does a cook make in Kentucky?
$31,550a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in Kentucky. That is $15.17 an hour or $2,629 a month.
- Hourly
- $15.17
- Vs. national median
- -16%
- Rank among states
- 45 of 51
- Jobs in the state
- 11,540
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $25,580Median: $31,550Highest 10%: $45,720
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $25,580 | $12.30 | |
| 25th | $28,880 | $13.88 | |
| Median | $31,550 | $15.17 | |
| 75th | $37,370 | $17.97 | |
| 90th | $45,720 | $21.98 |
Cities in Kentucky
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Louisville, KY | $37,370 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $37,180 |
| Lexington, KY | $36,470 |
| Clarksville, TN | $35,570 |
| Paducah, KY | $35,310 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $31,550 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $30,260 |
| Owensboro, KY | $30,170 |
| Huntington, WV | $29,630 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for cooks.
| 42. South Carolina | $34,960 |
| 43. Missouri | $34,900 |
| 44. Kansas | $31,950 |
| 45. Kentucky | $31,550 |
| 46. Arkansas | $30,240 |
| 47. West Virginia | $29,740 |
| 48. Oklahoma | $29,270 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Kentucky?
The median hourly pay in Kentucky is $15.17 ($31,550 a year).
Do cooks make more in Kentucky than the national average?
No: $31,550 against $37,450 nationally, 16% less.
Where does Kentucky rank for cook pay?
Kentucky ranks 45 of 51 states.
Which city in Kentucky pays cooks the most?
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN, with a median of $37,370 a year.
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.