SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Kentucky
Kentucky · 5 metro areas compared
In Kentucky the median wage is $48,070.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Kentucky the median wage is $48,070. That is 23.1% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay ranges from under $31,550 at the tenth percentile to more than $88,410 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $36,850 to $66,770.
Employment stands at 1,790, or 0.9 jobs per thousand held locally. Kentucky ranks number 48th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Lexington records the highest median at $56,790. Of the 699 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 446th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,550 | −49.5% |
| 25th | $36,850 | −41.0% |
| Median (50th) | $48,070 | −23.1% |
| 75th | $66,770 | +6.9% |
| 90th | $88,410 | +41.5% |
| Mean | $55,770 | −10.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Kentucky
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexington | $56,790 | 270 | |
| 2 | Bowling Green | $54,080 | 50 | |
| 3 | Owensboro | $47,620 | 30 | |
| 4 | Louisville/Jefferson County | $46,310 | 750 | |
| 5 | Paducah | $44,720 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Kentucky run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $48,070 goes as far as $53,293 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 14.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$48,070as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$53,293US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $48,070 a year, 23.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,550 to $88,410 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,790 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 48th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Lexington, at $56,790.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Kentucky?
The median annual wage is $48,070, or $23.11 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $62,470, so pay in Kentucky is 23.1% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Kentucky earns more than $88,410 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,550 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Lexington, at $56,790 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,790 jobs in this occupation in Kentucky. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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