Cooks, Fast Food salary in Kentucky
Cooks, Fast Food in Kentucky earn a median of $23,500 a year ($11.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 21,750 workers.
Pay ranges from $21,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $30,000 for the top 10%. That is 24% lower than the national median of $30,890. Kentucky ranks 49th of 51 states for cooks, fast food pay. There are 11 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $25,300, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,220 | $10.20 |
| 25th percentile | $22,030 | $10.59 |
| Median | $23,500 | $11.30 |
| 75th percentile | $27,890 | $13.41 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $30,000 | $14.43 |
| Average (mean) | $25,300 | $12.17 |
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 | $1,958.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $979.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $903.85 |
| Weekly | $451.92 |
| Hourly | $11.30 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in cities in Kentucky
| 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 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $23,450 | 820 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $26,850 | $12.91 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,640 | $16.65 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $31,550 | $15.17 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,130 | $13.04 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,660 | $14.26 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $35,810 | $17.21 |
| Bartender | $28,780 | $13.84 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,100 | $13.03 |
| Dishwasher | $29,060 | $13.97 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $32,200 | $15.48 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,330 | $12.66 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $48,070 | $23.11 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Kentucky
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 Kentucky?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in Kentucky is $23,500 a year, or $11.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $30,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in Kentucky earn at least $30,000 a year. The top 25% earn $27,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,220 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $22,030 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Kentucky?
About 21,750 cooks, fast food are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.