SOC 35-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Fast Food — Owensboro
Owensboro, KY · 4 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Owensboro, KY is $22,260 per year, substantially below the national median of $30,890 — a gap of 27.9%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Owensboro, KY is $22,260 per year, substantially below the national median of $30,890 — a gap of 27.9%. Half of workers earn between $21,680 and $26,720. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $20,990 and the ninetieth at $29,140.
The area has 620 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 12.6 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Louisville/Jefferson County records the highest median at $26,990. Of the 197 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 196th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $20,990 | −32.0% |
| 25th | $21,680 | −29.8% |
| Median (50th) | $22,260 | −27.9% |
| 75th | $26,720 | −13.5% |
| 90th | $29,140 | −5.7% |
| Mean | $24,560 | −20.5% |
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 | Bowling Green | $23,450 | 820 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Owensboro run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $22,260 goes as far as $24,678 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 20.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$22,260as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$24,678US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $22,260 a year, 27.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $20,990 to $29,140 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 620 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 Owensboro, KY?
The median annual wage is $22,260, or $10.70 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 Owensboro, KY is 27.9% 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 Owensboro, KY earns more than $29,140 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $20,990 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 620 jobs in this occupation in Owensboro, 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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