How much does a cook make in Paducah?
$31,200a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area. That is $15.00 an hour or $2,600 a month.
- Hourly
- $15.00
- Vs. national median
- -17%
- Rank among cities
- 321 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 490
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $26,770Median: $31,200Highest 10%: $37,150
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26,770 | $12.87 | |
| 25th | $29,010 | $13.95 | |
| Median | $31,200 | $15.00 | |
| 75th | $36,150 | $17.38 | |
| 90th | $37,150 | $17.86 |
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 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $31,040 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $30,120 |
| Owensboro, KY | $30,010 |
| Huntington, WV | $29,550 |
Related jobs in Paducah
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Cook | $35,310 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $35,210 |
| Dishwasher | $29,520 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $29,280 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $27,640 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,210 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $27,030 |
| Host and Hostess | $26,440 |
| Bartender | $26,350 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Paducah?
The median hourly pay in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area is $15.00 ($31,200 a year).
Do cooks make more in Paducah than the national average?
No: $31,200 against $37,390 nationally, 17% less.
How does Paducah compare with the rest of Kentucky?
The median in Kentucky is $34,640, so Paducah pays 10% less.
Where does Paducah rank for cook pay?
321 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Paducah?
The lowest-paid 10% make $26,770 or less a year; the top 10% make $37,150 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.