SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Paducah
Paducah, KY-IL · 4 metro areas compared
The median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Paducah, KY is $44,720 per year, substantially below the national median of $62,470 — a gap of 28.4%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Paducah, KY is $44,720 per year, substantially below the national median of $62,470 — a gap of 28.4%. Half of workers earn between $38,410 and $58,490. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $34,290 and the ninetieth at $79,230.
Employment stands at 40, or 0.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Lexington records the highest median at $56,790. Of the 207 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 135th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,290 | −45.1% |
| 25th | $38,410 | −38.5% |
| Median (50th) | $44,720 | −28.4% |
| 75th | $58,490 | −6.4% |
| 90th | $79,230 | +26.8% |
| Mean | $49,810 | −20.3% |
Other 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 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Paducah run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $44,720 goes as far as $49,579 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 20.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$44,720as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$49,579US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $44,720 a year, 28.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,290 to $79,230 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 40 jobs in 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 Paducah, KY?
The median annual wage is $44,720, or $21.50 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 Paducah, KY is 28.4% 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 Paducah, KY earns more than $79,230 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,290 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 40 jobs in this occupation in Paducah, KY. 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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