Cooks, Restaurant salary in Lexington-Fayette, KY
Cooks, Restaurant in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn a median of $35,970 a year ($17.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,300 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,680 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 4% higher than the Kentucky statewide median of $34,640. There are 8.0 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $34,740, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,130 | $13.53 |
| 25th percentile | $30,100 | $14.47 |
| Median | $35,970 | $17.30 |
| 75th percentile | $37,250 | $17.91 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| Average (mean) | $34,740 | $16.70 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $2,997.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,498.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,383.46 |
| Weekly | $691.73 |
| Hourly | $17.30 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $35,970 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, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,030 | 10,810 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $35,950 | 5,390 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $34,840 | 880 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $31,200 | 490 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $31,040 | 570 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $30,120 | 370 |
| Owensboro, KY | $30,010 | 440 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $29,550 | 1,090 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant 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, 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 35-2014. 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, restaurant make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area is $35,970 a year, or $17.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,680 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn at least $43,680 a year. The top 25% earn $37,250 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,130 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $30,100 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
About 2,300 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area, not counting the self-employed.