Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Lexington-Fayette, KY
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn a median of $56,790 a year ($27.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 270 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $109,390 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 18% higher than the Kentucky statewide median of $48,070. There are 0.95 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.74). The average (mean) salary is $61,090, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,030 | $17.32 |
| 25th percentile | $40,350 | $19.40 |
| Median | $56,790 | $27.30 |
| 75th percentile | $71,020 | $34.14 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $109,390 | $52.59 |
| Average (mean) | $61,090 | $29.37 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,732.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,366.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,184.23 |
| Weekly | $1,092.12 |
| Hourly | $27.30 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $56,790 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kentucky at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $60,880 | 100 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $56,620 | 1,060 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $54,080 | 50 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $53,240 | 80 |
| Owensboro, KY | $47,620 | 30 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $46,310 | 750 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $44,720 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,350 | $17.48 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,990 | $13.46 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $34,910 | $16.79 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,840 | $12.91 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,340 | $13.14 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,970 | $17.30 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,470 | $17.53 |
| Bartender | $30,640 | $14.73 |
| Dishwasher | $31,110 | $14.96 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,920 | $13.42 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $24,090 | $11.58 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,430 | $14.63 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $39,040 | $18.77 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Lexington-Fayette, KY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area is $56,790 a year, or $27.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $109,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn at least $109,390 a year. The top 25% earn $71,020 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,030 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $40,350 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
About 270 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area, not counting the self-employed.