How much does a cook make in Louisville?
$35,950a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area. That is $17.28 an hour or $2,996 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.28
- Vs. national median
- -4%
- Rank among cities
- 202 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 5,390
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $27,880Median: $35,950Highest 10%: $44,480
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,880 | $13.40 | |
| 25th | $30,210 | $14.52 | |
| Median | $35,950 | $17.28 | |
| 75th | $37,840 | $18.19 | |
| 90th | $44,480 | $21.38 |
Other cities in Kentucky
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Cincinnati, OH | $36,030 |
| Lexington, KY | $35,970 |
| 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 Louisville
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $46,310 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $38,800 |
| Cook | $37,370 |
| Food Server | $31,780 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $30,180 |
| Dishwasher | $29,770 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,640 |
| Cook | $29,630 |
| Bartender | $29,120 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $28,690 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Louisville?
The median hourly pay in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area is $17.28 ($35,950 a year).
Do cooks make more in Louisville than the national average?
No: $35,950 against $37,390 nationally, 4% less.
How does Louisville compare with the rest of Kentucky?
The median in Kentucky is $34,640, so Louisville pays 4% more.
Where does Louisville rank for cook pay?
202 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Louisville?
The lowest-paid 10% make $27,880 or less a year; the top 10% make $44,480 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.