How much does a cook make in Bowling Green?
$23,450a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Bowling Green, KY metro area. That is $11.27 an hour or $1,954 a month.
- Hourly
- $11.27
- Vs. national median
- -24%
- Rank among cities
- 285 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 820
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $21,430Median: $23,450Highest 10%: $31,290
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,430 | $10.30 | |
| 25th | $21,750 | $10.46 | |
| Median | $23,450 | $11.27 | |
| 75th | $27,190 | $13.07 | |
| 90th | $31,290 | $15.04 |
Other cities in Kentucky
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Cincinnati, OH | $28,930 |
| Louisville, KY | $26,990 |
| Lexington, KY | $26,840 |
| Clarksville, TN | $26,420 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $23,870 |
| Huntington, WV | $22,610 |
| Owensboro, KY | $22,260 |
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 |
| Cook | $31,040 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $28,810 |
| Dishwasher | $28,740 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $27,650 |
| Bartender | $26,800 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $26,410 |
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 $11.27 ($23,450 a year).
Do cooks make more in Bowling Green than the national average?
No: $23,450 against $30,890 nationally, 24% less.
How does Bowling Green compare with the rest of Kentucky?
The median in Kentucky is $23,500, so Bowling Green pays 0% more.
Where does Bowling Green rank for cook pay?
285 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Bowling Green?
The lowest-paid 10% make $21,430 or less a year; the top 10% make $31,290 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.