How much does a cook make in Bowling Green?
$31,040a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Bowling Green, KY metro area. That is $14.92 an hour or $2,587 a month.
- Hourly
- $14.92
- Vs. national median
- -17%
- Rank among cities
- 323 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 570
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $23,980Median: $31,040Highest 10%: $39,480
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,980 | $11.53 | |
| 25th | $28,700 | $13.80 | |
| Median | $31,040 | $14.92 | |
| 75th | $36,000 | $17.31 | |
| 90th | $39,480 | $18.98 |
Other cities in Kentucky
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Cincinnati, OH | $36,030 |
| Lexington, KY | $35,970 |
| Louisville, KY | $35,950 |
| Clarksville, TN | $34,840 |
| Paducah, KY | $31,200 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $30,120 |
| Owensboro, KY | $30,010 |
| Huntington, WV | $29,550 |
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 | $31,550 |
| 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 $14.92 ($31,040 a year).
Do cooks make more in Bowling Green than the national average?
No: $31,040 against $37,390 nationally, 17% less.
How does Bowling Green compare with the rest of Kentucky?
The median in Kentucky is $34,640, so Bowling Green pays 10% less.
Where does Bowling Green rank for cook pay?
323 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Bowling Green?
The lowest-paid 10% make $23,980 or less a year; the top 10% make $39,480 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.