SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Elizabethtown
Elizabethtown, KY · 5 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Elizabethtown, KY is $30,120 a year, trailing the national median of $37,390 by 19.4%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Elizabethtown, KY is $30,120 a year, trailing the national median of $37,390 by 19.4%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $28,050 and $35,720. The lowest tenth earn under $23,470, while the highest tenth earn more than $37,270.
The area has 370 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 7.1 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Lexington records the highest median at $35,970. Of the 212 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 193rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,470 | −37.2% |
| 25th | $28,050 | −25.0% |
| Median (50th) | $30,120 | −19.4% |
| 75th | $35,720 | −4.5% |
| 90th | $37,270 | −0.3% |
| Mean | $31,580 | −15.5% |
Other metro areas in Kentucky
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexington | $35,970 | 2,300 | |
| 2 | Louisville/Jefferson County | $35,950 | 5,390 | |
| 3 | Paducah | $31,200 | 490 | |
| 4 | Bowling Green | $31,040 | 570 | |
| 5 | Owensboro | $30,010 | 440 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Elizabethtown run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $30,120 goes as far as $33,392 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$30,120as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$33,392US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $30,120 a year, 19.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $23,470 to $37,270 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 370 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Lexington, at $35,970.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Elizabethtown, KY?
The median annual wage is $30,120, or $14.48 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 $37,390, so pay in Elizabethtown, KY is 19.4% 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 Elizabethtown, KY earns more than $37,270 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $23,470 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 $35,970 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 370 jobs in this occupation in Elizabethtown, 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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