Kentucky ranks 49th of 51 states and D.C. for chefs and head cooks pay, trailing top-paying Hawaii ($81,200) by $36,980 — a 84% gap.
Chefs and Head Cooks are less concentrated in Kentucky than the U.S. average — a location quotient of 0.79 means the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.27× below the national share.
Kentucky employs roughly 1.0% of all chefs and head cooks in the country (1,860 workers).
Salary Range: 10th to 90th Percentile
Full Percentile Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual Wage | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $27,110 | $13.03 |
| 25th percentile | $33,090 | $15.91 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $44,220 | $21.26 |
| 75th percentile | $64,320 | $30.92 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $87,550 | $42.09 |
| Mean (average) | $51,800 | $24.91 |
How Kentucky Compares
| State | Median Annual | vs. Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky (current) | $44,220 | n/a |
| Hawaii | $81,200 | +84% |
| Rhode Island | $79,160 | +79% |
| North Dakota | $76,630 | +73% |
| District of Columbia | $74,000 | +67% |
| Massachusetts | $71,330 | +61% |
| Washington | $69,800 | +58% |
| New Jersey | $69,660 | +58% |
| California | $66,780 | +51% |
Showing top-paying states with available data. View all states →
Related Occupations in Kentucky
| Occupation | Median Annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $44,120 | 2,110 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $44,120 | 750 |
| Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other | $44,470 | 2,220 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $44,530 | 980 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,670 | 49,390 |
| Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other | $44,780 | 740 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Kentucky?
The mean chefs and head cooks salary in Kentucky is $51,800 per year. The median (middle) salary is $44,220 per year.
What is the starting salary for a Chefs and Head Cooks in Kentucky?
Entry-level chefs and head cookss (10th percentile) in Kentucky typically earn around $27,110 per year. Workers at the 25th percentile earn approximately $33,090 per year.
What is the highest Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Kentucky?
Top earners (90th percentile) in this occupation in Kentucky make approximately $87,550 per year. Those in the 75th percentile earn around $64,320 per year.
How does the Kentucky Chefs and Head Cooks salary compare to the national average?
The median chefs and head cooks salary in Kentucky is $44,220, which is -27% below national average of $60,990.