How much does a cook make in Lexington?
$36,470a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area. That is $17.53 an hour or $3,039 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.53
- Vs. national median
- -3%
- Rank among cities
- 207 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 1,410
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $29,440Median: $36,470Highest 10%: $50,380
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,440 | $14.15 | |
| 25th | $33,740 | $16.22 | |
| Median | $36,470 | $17.53 | |
| 75th | $40,140 | $19.30 | |
| 90th | $50,380 | $24.22 |
Other cities in Kentucky
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Louisville, KY | $37,370 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $37,180 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Lexington
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $56,790 |
| Cook | $39,040 |
| 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 cook make an hour in Lexington?
The median hourly pay in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area is $17.53 ($36,470 a year).
Do cooks make more in Lexington than the national average?
No: $36,470 against $37,450 nationally, 3% less.
How does Lexington compare with the rest of Kentucky?
The median in Kentucky is $31,550, so Lexington pays 16% more.
Where does Lexington rank for cook pay?
207 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,440 or less a year; the top 10% make $50,380 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.