Cooks, Fast Food salary in Owensboro, KY
Cooks, Fast Food in the Owensboro, KY metro area earn a median of $22,260 a year ($10.70 an hour), based on BLS data for 620 workers.
Pay ranges from $20,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $29,140 for the top 10%. That is 28% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 5% lower than the Kentucky statewide median of $23,500. There are 13 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $24,560, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Owensboro, KY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,990 | $10.09 |
| 25th percentile | $21,680 | $10.42 |
| Median | $22,260 | $10.70 |
| 75th percentile | $26,720 | $12.85 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $29,140 | $14.01 |
| Average (mean) | $24,560 | $11.81 |
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 | $1,855 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $927.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $856.15 |
| Weekly | $428.08 |
| Hourly | $10.70 |
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 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $23,450 | 820 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $22,610 | 3,070 |
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 Owensboro, KY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,130 | $13.04 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $30,010 | $14.43 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $30,170 | $14.50 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,750 | $12.86 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,790 | $14.32 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $34,910 | $16.79 |
| Bartender | $26,810 | $12.89 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $24,050 | $11.56 |
| Dishwasher | $28,450 | $13.68 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $23,350 | $11.23 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,600 | $14.23 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $47,620 | $22.90 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Owensboro, 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 Owensboro, KY?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Owensboro, KY metro area is $22,260 a year, or $10.70 an hour. Pay ranges from $20,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $29,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Owensboro, KY?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Owensboro, KY metro area earn at least $29,140 a year. The top 25% earn $26,720 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Owensboro, KY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $20,990 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $21,680 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Owensboro, KY?
About 620 cooks, fast food are employed in the Owensboro, KY metro area, not counting the self-employed.