Quick answer
Restaurant Cooks in Kentucky earned a median of $34,640 a year ($16.65 an hour) in May 2025, 7% below the national median of $37,390; 13,510 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 | $34,640 | $37,390 |
| Mean annual wage | $33,700 | $38,730 |
| Median hourly wage | $16.65 | $17.98 |
| 10th percentile | $24,750 | $28,700 |
| 25th percentile | $28,850 | $34,010 |
| 75th percentile | $37,200 | $44,620 |
| 90th percentile | $43,750 | $47,900 |
| Employment | 13,510 | 1,409,890 |
| Jobs per 1,000 | 6.753 | — |
| Location quotient | 0.74 | 1.00 |
Related
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- Restaurant Cooks salary in Maryland (May 2025)
- Restaurant Cooks salary in Massachusetts (May 2025)
- Restaurant Cooks salary in Michigan (May 2025)
Last updated 2026-10-16. Data only, not financial or tax advice.