Cooks, Fast Food salary in Bowling Green, KY
Cooks, Fast Food in the Bowling Green, KY metro area earn a median of $23,450 a year ($11.28 an hour), based on BLS data for 820 workers.
Pay ranges from $21,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $31,290 for the top 10%. That is 24% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is about the same as the Kentucky statewide median of $23,500. There are 10.0 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $25,170, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Bowling Green, KY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,430 | $10.30 |
| 25th percentile | $21,750 | $10.46 |
| Median | $23,450 | $11.28 |
| 75th percentile | $27,190 | $13.07 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $31,290 | $15.04 |
| Average (mean) | $25,170 | $12.10 |
Half of cooks, fast food 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 | $1,954.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $977.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $901.92 |
| Weekly | $450.96 |
| Hourly | $11.28 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $28,930 | 4,930 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $26,990 | 5,060 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $26,840 | 3,040 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $26,420 | 910 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $23,870 | 660 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $22,610 | 3,070 |
| Owensboro, KY | $22,260 | 620 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Bowling Green, KY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $26,410 | $12.70 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $31,040 | $14.92 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $31,550 | $15.17 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,590 | $13.26 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,650 | $13.30 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,810 | $13.85 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,150 | $18.34 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $24,500 | $11.78 |
| Bartender | $26,800 | $12.88 |
| Dishwasher | $28,740 | $13.82 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,200 | $12.59 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,040 | $16.37 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $54,080 | $26.00 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Bowling Green, KY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2011. 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 cooks, fast food make in Bowling Green, KY?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Bowling Green, KY metro area is $23,450 a year, or $11.28 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $31,290 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Bowling Green, KY?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Bowling Green, KY metro area earn at least $31,290 a year. The top 25% earn $27,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Bowling Green, KY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,430 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $21,750 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Bowling Green, KY?
About 820 cooks, fast food are employed in the Bowling Green, KY metro area, not counting the self-employed.