Kentucky Median
$34,640
per year
Hourly Rate
$16.65
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-7% vs US median
US median $37,390
State Rank
#45 of 51
13,510 employed here
How much does a Cook, Restaurant make in Kentucky?
Cooks, Restaurant in Kentucky take home a median of $34,640 annually — roughly $16.65 an hour — which runs 7% below the national median of $37,390.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $24,750 while the top 10% make $43,750 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $28,850 and $37,200 a year.
Cook, Restaurant salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,750 | $11.90 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $28,850 | $13.87 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $34,640 | $16.65 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $37,200 | $17.88 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,750 | $21.03 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 45th out of 51 states and territories for Cook, Restaurant pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Cook, Restaurant salary in other states
Washington $46,800District of Columbia $46,130Massachusetts $45,600Hawaii $45,420Vermont $45,390Maine $45,290California $44,880New York $43,680Oregon $43,100Colorado $41,600New Hampshire $40,200Alaska $40,140Connecticut $39,480Arizona $38,670Nevada $38,610Minnesota $38,590New Jersey $38,460Montana $38,060Delaware $37,840Maryland $37,820Illinois $37,580Nebraska $37,030Florida $37,020Michigan $36,980Missouri $36,940Wyoming $36,830Virginia $36,750Pennsylvania $36,580Wisconsin $36,550Rhode Island $36,510Utah $36,490North Dakota $36,470Idaho $36,440Tennessee $36,420South Dakota $36,220Georgia $35,940South Carolina $35,740Iowa $35,670Ohio $35,540North Carolina $35,400Indiana $35,170Kansas $35,130New Mexico $35,020Texas $34,760Alabama $32,180Oklahoma $31,720Arkansas $30,180West Virginia $29,590Mississippi $29,560Louisiana $29,050
Working as a Cook, Restaurant in Kentucky
Nationally, about 1,410,000 people work as Cooks, Restaurant in the United States. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
Considering a move? Compare Kentucky pay ($34,640) 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, Restaurant make in Kentucky?
The median Cook, Restaurant salary in Kentucky is $34,640 per year, or about $16.65 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $24,750 at the entry level to $43,750 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Cooks, Restaurant about 7% less than the national median of $37,390. Kentucky ranks 45th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Cooks, Restaurant?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $34,640 a year. About 13,510 Cooks, Restaurant 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, Restaurant 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.