Kentucky ranks 45th of 51 states and D.C. for cooks, restaurant pay, trailing top-paying Massachusetts ($46,280) by $15,320 — a 49% gap.
Cooks, Restaurant are less concentrated in Kentucky than the U.S. average — a location quotient of 0.77 means the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.30× below the national share.
Salary Range: 10th to 90th Percentile
Full Percentile Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual Wage | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $22,680 | $10.90 |
| 25th percentile | $28,400 | $13.65 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $30,960 | $14.88 |
| 75th percentile | $36,380 | $17.49 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $41,620 | $20.01 |
| Mean (average) | $32,340 | $15.55 |
How Kentucky Compares
| State | Median Annual | vs. Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky (current) | $30,960 | n/a |
| Massachusetts | $46,280 | +49% |
| District of Columbia | $45,230 | +46% |
| Washington | $44,980 | +45% |
| Maine | $44,870 | +45% |
| Hawaii | $44,710 | +44% |
| Vermont | $44,560 | +44% |
| California | $44,290 | +43% |
| New York | $39,890 | +29% |
Showing top-paying states with available data. View all states →
Related Occupations in Kentucky
| Occupation | Median Annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $30,890 | 820 |
| Parking Attendants | $30,860 | 920 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,080 | 2,480 |
| Recreation Workers | $31,100 | 2,390 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $30,770 | 11,650 |
| Library Technicians | $30,750 | 1,300 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Cooks, Restaurant salary in Kentucky?
The mean cooks, restaurant salary in Kentucky is $32,340 per year. The median (middle) salary is $30,960 per year.
What is the starting salary for a Cooks, Restaurant in Kentucky?
Entry-level cooks, restaurants (10th percentile) in Kentucky typically earn around $22,680 per year. Workers at the 25th percentile earn approximately $28,400 per year.
What is the highest Cooks, Restaurant salary in Kentucky?
Top earners (90th percentile) in this occupation in Kentucky make approximately $41,620 per year. Those in the 75th percentile earn around $36,380 per year.
How does the Kentucky Cooks, Restaurant salary compare to the national average?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in Kentucky is $30,960, which is -16% below national average of $36,830.