How much does a food preparation worker make in Louisville?
$29,640a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area. That is $14.25 an hour or $2,470 a month.
- Hourly
- $14.25
- Vs. national median
- -16%
- Rank among cities
- 288 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 4,910
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $21,250Median: $29,640Highest 10%: $39,980
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,250 | $10.22 | |
| 25th | $26,540 | $12.76 | |
| Median | $29,640 | $14.25 | |
| 75th | $36,470 | $17.53 | |
| 90th | $39,980 | $19.22 |
Other cities in Kentucky
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| Cincinnati, OH | $34,320 |
| Lexington, KY | $27,340 |
| Paducah, KY | $27,210 |
| Owensboro, KY | $27,130 |
| Clarksville, TN | $27,030 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $26,410 |
| Huntington, WV | $24,960 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $23,600 |
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 |
| Cook | $29,630 |
| Bartender | $29,120 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $28,690 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Louisville?
The median hourly pay in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area is $14.25 ($29,640 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Louisville than the national average?
No: $29,640 against $35,320 nationally, 16% less.
How does Louisville compare with the rest of Kentucky?
The median in Kentucky is $26,850, so Louisville pays 10% more.
Where does Louisville rank for food preparation worker pay?
288 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in Louisville?
The lowest-paid 10% make $21,250 or less a year; the top 10% make $39,980 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.