How much does a cook make in Louisville?
$29,630a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area. That is $14.25 an hour or $2,469 a month.
- Hourly
- $14.25
- Vs. national median
- -17%
- Rank among cities
- 158 of 237
- Jobs in the area
- 260
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $20,860Median: $29,630Highest 10%: $43,680
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $20,860 | $10.03 | |
| 25th | $24,690 | $11.87 | |
| Median | $29,630 | $14.25 | |
| 75th | $37,620 | $18.09 | |
| 90th | $43,680 | $21.00 |
Other cities in Kentucky
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Lexington, KY | $39,040 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $32,180 |
| Clarksville, TN | $30,170 |
| Huntington, WV | $26,470 |
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 |
| Cook | $35,950 |
| Food Server | $31,780 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $30,180 |
| Dishwasher | $29,770 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,640 |
| 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 $14.25 ($29,630 a year).
Do cooks make more in Louisville than the national average?
No: $29,630 against $35,880 nationally, 17% less.
How does Louisville compare with the rest of Kentucky?
The median in Kentucky is $31,840, so Louisville pays 7% less.
Where does Louisville rank for cook pay?
158 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Louisville?
The lowest-paid 10% make $20,860 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.