How much does a cook make in Louisville?
$26,990a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area. That is $12.98 an hour or $2,249 a month.
- Hourly
- $12.98
- Vs. national median
- -13%
- Rank among cities
- 232 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 5,060
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $21,990Median: $26,990Highest 10%: $35,050
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,990 | $10.57 | |
| 25th | $22,080 | $10.62 | |
| Median | $26,990 | $12.98 | |
| 75th | $28,640 | $13.77 | |
| 90th | $35,050 | $16.85 |
Other cities in Kentucky
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Cincinnati, OH | $28,930 |
| 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 |
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 |
| Cook | $29,630 |
| Bartender | $29,120 |
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 $12.98 ($26,990 a year).
Do cooks make more in Louisville than the national average?
No: $26,990 against $30,890 nationally, 13% less.
How does Louisville compare with the rest of Kentucky?
The median in Kentucky is $23,500, so Louisville pays 15% more.
Where does Louisville rank for cook pay?
232 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Louisville?
The lowest-paid 10% make $21,990 or less a year; the top 10% make $35,050 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.