Quick answer
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Kentucky earned a median of $31,550 a year ($15.17 an hour) in May 2025, 16% below the national median of $37,450; 11,540 were employed there, ranking #46 of 54 states and territories by median pay, per BLS OEWS.
Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025
| Measure | Kentucky | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $31,550 | $37,450 |
| Mean annual wage | $33,790 | $38,810 |
| Median hourly wage | $15.17 | $18.01 |
| 10th percentile | $25,580 | $28,480 |
| 25th percentile | $28,880 | $32,440 |
| 75th percentile | $37,370 | $44,800 |
| 90th percentile | $45,720 | $49,670 |
| Employment | 11,540 | 441,050 |
| Jobs per 1,000 | 5.769 | — |
| Location quotient | 2.03 | 1.00 |
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Last updated 2026-10-16. Data only, not financial or tax advice.