Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Lexington-Fayette, KY
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn a median of $36,470 a year ($17.53 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,410 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,380 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $37,450. Pay here is 16% higher than the Kentucky statewide median of $31,550. There are 4.9 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $37,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,440 | $14.16 |
| 25th percentile | $33,740 | $16.22 |
| Median | $36,470 | $17.53 |
| 75th percentile | $40,140 | $19.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,380 | $24.22 |
| Average (mean) | $37,830 | $18.19 |
Half of cooks, institution and cafeteria 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 | $3,039.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,519.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,402.69 |
| Weekly | $701.35 |
| Hourly | $17.53 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $36,470 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, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $37,370 | 2,700 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $37,180 | 4,310 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $35,570 | 470 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $35,310 | 440 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $31,550 | 530 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $30,260 | 360 |
| Owensboro, KY | $30,170 | 330 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $29,630 | 920 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 |
| Alaska | $48,580 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 |
| California | $46,390 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,880 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 |
See Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in every state or the Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,840 | $12.91 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,340 | $13.14 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,970 | $17.30 |
| 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 35-2012. 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, institution and cafeteria make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area is $36,470 a year, or $17.53 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn at least $50,380 a year. The top 25% earn $40,140 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,440 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $33,740 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
About 1,410 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area, not counting the self-employed.