How much does a cook make in Lexington?
$35,970a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area. That is $17.29 an hour or $2,998 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.29
- Vs. national median
- -4%
- Rank among cities
- 201 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 2,300
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $28,130Median: $35,970Highest 10%: $43,680
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,130 | $13.52 | |
| 25th | $30,100 | $14.47 | |
| Median | $35,970 | $17.29 | |
| 75th | $37,250 | $17.91 | |
| 90th | $43,680 | $21.00 |
Other cities in Kentucky
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Cincinnati, OH | $36,030 |
| Louisville, KY | $35,950 |
| Clarksville, TN | $34,840 |
| Paducah, KY | $31,200 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $31,040 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $30,120 |
| Owensboro, KY | $30,010 |
| Huntington, WV | $29,550 |
Related jobs in Lexington
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $56,790 |
| Cook | $39,040 |
| Cook | $36,470 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $36,350 |
| 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 $17.29 ($35,970 a year).
Do cooks make more in Lexington than the national average?
No: $35,970 against $37,390 nationally, 4% less.
How does Lexington compare with the rest of Kentucky?
The median in Kentucky is $34,640, so Lexington pays 4% more.
Where does Lexington rank for cook pay?
201 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% make $28,130 or less a year; the top 10% make $43,680 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.