Cooks, Short Order salary in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
Cooks, Short Order in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn a median of $29,630 a year ($14.24 an hour), based on BLS data for 260 workers.
Pay ranges from $20,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,680 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 7% lower than the Kentucky statewide median of $31,840. There are 0.37 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.42). The average (mean) salary is $31,430, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,860 | $10.03 |
| 25th percentile | $24,690 | $11.87 |
| Median | $29,630 | $14.24 |
| 75th percentile | $37,620 | $18.09 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| Average (mean) | $31,430 | $15.11 |
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 | $2,469.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,234.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,139.62 |
| Weekly | $569.81 |
| Hourly | $14.24 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $29,630 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $39,040 | 130 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $37,440 | 1,780 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $32,180 | 580 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $30,240 | 170 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $30,170 | 100 |
| Bloomington, IN | $29,030 | 60 |
| Kokomo, IN | $28,670 | 30 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $28,430 | 70 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $28,390 | 40 |
| Muncie, IN | $28,030 | 50 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $27,590 | 40 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $26,470 | 80 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $21,940 | 50 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $21,440 | n/a |
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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,950 | $17.28 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,990 | $12.98 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,640 | $14.25 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,370 | $17.97 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,690 | $13.79 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,180 | $14.51 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,800 | $18.65 |
| Bartender | $29,120 | $14.00 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,590 | $13.26 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,780 | $15.28 |
| Dishwasher | $29,770 | $14.31 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,030 | $13.48 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $46,310 | $22.27 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area is $29,630 a year, or $14.24 an hour. Pay ranges from $20,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,680 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn at least $43,680 a year. The top 25% earn $37,620 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $20,860 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $24,690 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
About 260 cooks, short order are employed in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.