Cooks, Fast Food salary in Lexington-Fayette, KY
Cooks, Fast Food in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn a median of $26,840 a year ($12.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,040 workers.
Pay ranges from $21,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $30,510 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 14% higher than the Kentucky statewide median of $23,500. 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 $26,180, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,920 | $10.54 |
| 25th percentile | $22,650 | $10.89 |
| Median | $26,840 | $12.91 |
| 75th percentile | $27,890 | $13.41 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $30,510 | $14.67 |
| Average (mean) | $26,180 | $12.59 |
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 | $2,236.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,118.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,032.31 |
| Weekly | $516.15 |
| Hourly | $12.91 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $26,840 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kentucky at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
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 |
| 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 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,340 | $13.14 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,970 | $17.30 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,470 | $17.53 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $39,040 | $18.77 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,990 | $13.46 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $34,910 | $16.79 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,350 | $17.48 |
| 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 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $56,790 | $27.30 |
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 35-2011. 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 Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area is $26,840 a year, or $12.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $30,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn at least $30,510 a year. The top 25% earn $27,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,920 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $22,650 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
About 3,040 cooks, fast food are employed in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area, not counting the self-employed.