SOC 35-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Fast Food — Bowling Green
Bowling Green, KY · 4 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Bowling Green, KY is $23,450 per year, 24.1% below the national median of $30,890.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Bowling Green, KY is $23,450 per year, 24.1% below the national median of $30,890. Half of workers earn between $21,750 and $27,190. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $21,430 and the ninetieth at $31,290.
The area has 820 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 10.0 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Louisville/Jefferson County records the highest median at $26,990. Of the 279 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 276th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,430 | −30.6% |
| 25th | $21,750 | −29.6% |
| Median (50th) | $23,450 | −24.1% |
| 75th | $27,190 | −12.0% |
| 90th | $31,290 | +1.3% |
| Mean | $25,170 | −18.5% |
Other metro areas in Kentucky
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville/Jefferson County | $26,990 | 5,060 | |
| 2 | Lexington | $26,840 | 3,040 | |
| 3 | Elizabethtown | $23,870 | 660 | |
| 4 | Owensboro | $22,260 | 620 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Bowling Green run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $23,450 goes as far as $25,998 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 15.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$23,450as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$25,998US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $23,450 a year, 24.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $21,430 to $31,290 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 820 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Louisville/Jefferson County, at $26,990.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Bowling Green, KY?
The median annual wage is $23,450, or $11.28 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 $30,890, so pay in Bowling Green, KY is 24.1% 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 Bowling Green, KY earns more than $31,290 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $21,430 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, at $26,990 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 820 jobs in this occupation in Bowling Green, 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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