How much does a cook make in Lexington?
$26,840a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area. That is $12.90 an hour or $2,237 a month.
- Hourly
- $12.90
- Vs. national median
- -13%
- Rank among cities
- 238 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 3,040
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $21,920Median: $26,840Highest 10%: $30,510
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,920 | $10.54 | |
| 25th | $22,650 | $10.89 | |
| Median | $26,840 | $12.90 | |
| 75th | $27,890 | $13.41 | |
| 90th | $30,510 | $14.67 |
Other cities in Kentucky
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Cincinnati, OH | $28,930 |
| Louisville, KY | $26,990 |
| Clarksville, TN | $26,420 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $23,870 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $23,450 |
| Huntington, WV | $22,610 |
| Owensboro, KY | $22,260 |
Related jobs in Lexington
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $56,790 |
| Cook | $39,040 |
| Cook | $36,470 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $36,350 |
| Cook | $35,970 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $34,910 |
| Dishwasher | $31,110 |
| Bartender | $30,640 |
| Food Server | $30,430 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $27,990 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Lexington?
The median hourly pay in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area is $12.90 ($26,840 a year).
Do cooks make more in Lexington than the national average?
No: $26,840 against $30,890 nationally, 13% less.
How does Lexington compare with the rest of Kentucky?
The median in Kentucky is $23,500, so Lexington pays 14% more.
Where does Lexington rank for cook pay?
238 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% make $21,920 or less a year; the top 10% make $30,510 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.