Chefs and Head Cooks Pay Range in Kentucky
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$31,550
- 25th Percentile — Junior$36,850
- 50th Percentile — Median$48,070
- 75th Percentile — Senior$66,770
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$88,410
Half of Chefs and Head Cooks in Kentucky earn more than $48,070. The top 10% make $88,410 or more, while entry-level workers start around $31,550.
Chefs and Head Cooks in Kentucky: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Kentucky ranks 46th of 51 states for Chefs and Head Cooks pay, at $55,770 per year (16.4% below the U.S. average of $66,700).
- 1,790 people work as Chefs and Head Cooks in Kentucky — 0.9% of all U.S. Chefs and Head Cooks jobs.
- Location quotient 0.70: Chefs and Head Cooks jobs are less concentrated in Kentucky than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $31,550; the top 10% earn over $88,410.
- Hourly equivalent: $26.81 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Rhode Island at $84,860.
- Among hospitality jobs in Kentucky, First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation pays the most ($39,320).
Chefs and Head Cooks Job Market in Kentucky
Key factors affecting compensation
Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Chefs and Head Cooks here earn $55,770 on average, placing the state 46th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $55,770 is roughly equivalent to $67,193 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Utah ($58,880), Idaho ($57,390), Oklahoma ($57,190) are the closest alternatives for Chefs and Head Cooks weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Hospitality Jobs in Kentucky
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation $39,320/yr Kentucky 29.5% vs this role
- Waiters and Waitresses $35,410/yr Kentucky 36.5% vs this role
- Bartenders $34,970/yr Kentucky 37.3% vs this role
- Cooks Institution and Cafeteria $33,790/yr Kentucky 39.4% vs this role
- Cooks Restaurant $33,700/yr Kentucky 39.6% vs this role
- Fast Food and Counter Workers $26,890/yr Kentucky 51.8% vs this role
- Dining Room Attendants and Bartender Helpers $26,350/yr Kentucky 52.8% vs this role
- Cooks Fast Food $25,300/yr Kentucky 54.6% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Kentucky?
The average Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Kentucky is $55,770 per year (median $48,070), which is 16.4% below the national average of $66,700.
How does Kentucky rank for Chefs and Head Cooks pay?
Kentucky ranks 46th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Rhode Island ($84,860/yr).
How much do entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks make in Kentucky?
The lowest-paid 10% of Chefs and Head Cooks in Kentucky earn about $31,550 per year and the 25th percentile is $36,850.
How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Kentucky?
About $26.81 per hour, based on the $55,770 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Chefs and Head Cooks work in Kentucky?
BLS counts 1,790 Chefs and Head Cooks jobs in Kentucky (OEWS May 2025).
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