Cooks, Short Order salary in Lexington-Fayette, KY
Cooks, Short Order in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn a median of $39,040 a year ($18.77 an hour), based on BLS data for 130 workers.
Pay ranges from $25,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,440 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 23% higher than the Kentucky statewide median of $31,840. There are 0.46 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.51). The average (mean) salary is $37,030, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,040 | $12.04 |
| 25th percentile | $30,850 | $14.83 |
| Median | $39,040 | $18.77 |
| 75th percentile | $45,780 | $22.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,440 | $22.81 |
| Average (mean) | $37,030 | $17.80 |
Half of cooks, short order 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 | $3,253.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,626.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,501.54 |
| Weekly | $750.77 |
| Hourly | $18.77 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $39,040 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, Short Order salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $32,180 | 580 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $30,170 | 100 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $29,630 | 260 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $27,590 | 40 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $26,470 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
See Cooks, Short Order 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, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,470 | $17.53 |
| 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 35-2015. 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, short order make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area is $39,040 a year, or $18.77 an hour. Pay ranges from $25,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn at least $47,440 a year. The top 25% earn $45,780 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $25,040 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $30,850 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
About 130 cooks, short order are employed in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area, not counting the self-employed.