Kentucky Median
$48,070
per year
Hourly Rate
$23.11
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-23% vs US median
US median $62,470
State Rank
#48 of 51
1,790 employed here
How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make in Kentucky?
Chefs and Head Cooks working in Kentucky earn a median salary of $48,070 per year, or about $23.11 per hour. That is 23% below the national median of $62,470 for this occupation.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $31,550 while the top 10% make $88,410 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $36,850 and $66,770 a year.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,550 | $15.17 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $36,850 | $17.72 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $48,070 | $23.11 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $66,770 | $32.10 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,410 | $42.50 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 48th out of 51 states and territories for Chefs and Head Cooks pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other states
Rhode Island $79,930Hawaii $77,360District of Columbia $76,420Washington $76,010North Dakota $74,740New Jersey $74,280Wyoming $73,170South Carolina $71,860New York $70,670Tennessee $69,810Massachusetts $69,540Georgia $66,230Vermont $65,440Colorado $65,400California $64,500Missouri $64,480Connecticut $64,310Pennsylvania $63,860Oregon $63,600New Hampshire $63,400Virginia $63,270Minnesota $62,600Alabama $62,400Nevada $62,380New Mexico $62,250Maryland $61,590Delaware $61,440Wisconsin $61,300North Carolina $61,130West Virginia $61,100Nebraska $60,510Michigan $60,070Arizona $59,890Utah $59,060Illinois $58,830Oklahoma $58,540Kansas $58,390Florida $58,240Montana $57,470Maine $57,010Texas $56,080Mississippi $54,850Ohio $53,990Alaska $52,190Indiana $52,190Idaho $52,000South Dakota $48,470Iowa $47,990Arkansas $46,170Louisiana $45,570
Working as Chefs and Head Cooks in Kentucky
Nationally, about 200,000 people work as Chefs and Head Cooks in the United States. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
Considering a move? Compare Kentucky pay ($48,070) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make in Kentucky?
The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Kentucky is $48,070 per year, or about $23.11 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $31,550 at the entry level to $88,410 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Chefs and Head Cooks about 23% less than the national median of $62,470. Kentucky ranks 48th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Chefs and Head Cooks?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $48,070 a year. About 1,790 Chefs and Head Cooks are employed in Kentucky. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Chefs and Head Cooks salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.