Kentucky Median
$23,500
per year
Hourly Rate
$11.30
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-24% vs US median
US median $30,890
State Rank
#49 of 51
21,750 employed here
How much does a Cook, Fast Food make in Kentucky?
Cooks, Fast Food in Kentucky take home a median of $23,500 annually — roughly $11.30 an hour — which runs 24% below the national median of $30,890.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $21,220 while the top 10% make $30,000 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $22,030 and $27,890 a year.
Cook, Fast Food salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,220 | $10.20 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $22,030 | $10.59 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $23,500 | $11.30 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $27,890 | $13.41 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $30,000 | $14.42 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 49th out of 51 states and territories for Cook, Fast Food pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Cook, Fast Food salary in other states
Hawaii $48,120District of Columbia $44,670California $42,050Washington $39,120New Hampshire $38,590Vermont $38,230Oregon $37,880Massachusetts $37,870Colorado $36,900Maine $36,350New York $35,770Rhode Island $35,230Connecticut $34,980Illinois $34,960Minnesota $34,120Alaska $33,960Nevada $33,840Maryland $33,320Arizona $32,660New Jersey $32,220Delaware $31,840Utah $31,800Idaho $31,070South Dakota $30,950Nebraska $30,430North Dakota $30,220New Mexico $30,190Virginia $29,950Florida $29,900Missouri $29,890Indiana $29,870Michigan $29,460Wyoming $28,950Wisconsin $28,920Pennsylvania $28,810Kansas $28,640Iowa $28,510Tennessee $28,330Texas $28,280Alabama $27,870Oklahoma $27,720Arkansas $27,710South Carolina $27,420North Carolina $27,190Georgia $26,940Ohio $26,870Montana $26,770Louisiana $24,960West Virginia $23,120Mississippi $22,670
Working as a Cook, Fast Food in Kentucky
Nationally, about 641,000 people work as Cooks, Fast Food in the United States. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
Considering a move? Compare Kentucky pay ($23,500) 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 does a Cook, Fast Food make in Kentucky?
The median Cook, Fast Food salary in Kentucky is $23,500 per year, or about $11.30 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $21,220 at the entry level to $30,000 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Cooks, Fast Food about 24% less than the national median of $30,890. Kentucky ranks 49th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Cooks, Fast Food?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $23,500 a year. About 21,750 Cooks, Fast Food 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 Cook, Fast Food 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.