SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Louisville/Jefferson County
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN · 5 metro areas compared
At $35,950, median pay for Cooks, Restaurant in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY tracks the national median of $37,390 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $35,950, median pay for Cooks, Restaurant in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY tracks the national median of $37,390 closely. Pay ranges from under $27,880 at the tenth percentile to more than $44,480 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $30,210 to $37,840.
Employment stands at 5,390, or 7.9 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Lexington records the highest median at $35,970. Of the 560 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 505th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,880 | −25.4% |
| 25th | $30,210 | −19.2% |
| Median (50th) | $35,950 | −3.9% |
| 75th | $37,840 | +1.2% |
| 90th | $44,480 | +19.0% |
| Mean | $35,360 | −5.4% |
Other metro areas in Kentucky
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexington | $35,970 | 2,300 | |
| 2 | Paducah | $31,200 | 490 | |
| 3 | Bowling Green | $31,040 | 570 | |
| 4 | Elizabethtown | $30,120 | 370 | |
| 5 | Owensboro | $30,010 | 440 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Louisville/Jefferson County run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $35,950 goes as far as $39,856 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 6.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$35,950as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$39,856US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $35,950 a year, 3.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $27,880 to $44,480 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 5,390 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY?
The median annual wage is $35,950, or $17.28 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 $37,390, so pay in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY is 3.9% 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY earns more than $44,480 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $27,880 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 5,390 jobs in this occupation in Louisville/Jefferson County, 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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