How much does a cook make in Kentucky?
$23,500a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in Kentucky. That is $11.30 an hour or $1,958 a month.
- Hourly
- $11.30
- Vs. national median
- -24%
- Rank among states
- 49 of 51
- Jobs in the state
- 21,750
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $21,220Median: $23,500Highest 10%: $30,000
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,220 | $10.20 | |
| 25th | $22,030 | $10.59 | |
| Median | $23,500 | $11.30 | |
| 75th | $27,890 | $13.41 | |
| 90th | $30,000 | $14.42 |
Cities in Kentucky
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Cincinnati, OH | $28,930 |
| Louisville, KY | $26,990 |
| Lexington, KY | $26,840 |
| Clarksville, TN | $26,420 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $23,870 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $23,450 |
| Huntington, WV | $22,610 |
| Owensboro, KY | $22,260 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for cooks.
| 46. Ohio | $26,870 |
| 47. Montana | $26,770 |
| 48. Louisiana | $24,960 |
| 49. Kentucky | $23,500 |
| 50. West Virginia | $23,120 |
| 51. Mississippi | $22,670 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Kentucky?
The median hourly pay in Kentucky is $11.30 ($23,500 a year).
Do cooks make more in Kentucky than the national average?
No: $23,500 against $30,890 nationally, 24% less.
Where does Kentucky rank for cook pay?
Kentucky ranks 49 of 51 states.
Which city in Kentucky pays cooks the most?
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN, with a median of $28,930 a year.
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.