Cooks Fast Food Pay Range in Kentucky
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$21,220
- 25th Percentile — Junior$22,030
- 50th Percentile — Median$23,500
- 75th Percentile — Senior$27,890
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$30,000
Half of Cooks Fast Food in Kentucky earn more than $23,500. The top 10% make $30,000 or more, while entry-level workers start around $21,220.
Cooks Fast Food in Kentucky: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Kentucky ranks 48th of 51 states for Cooks Fast Food pay, at $25,300 per year (21.9% below the U.S. average of $32,390).
- 21,750 people work as Cooks Fast Food in Kentucky — 3.4% of all U.S. Cooks Fast Food jobs.
- Location quotient 2.64: Cooks Fast Food jobs are more concentrated in Kentucky than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $21,220; the top 10% earn over $30,000.
- Hourly equivalent: $12.16 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $43,710.
- Among hospitality jobs in Kentucky, Chefs and Head Cooks pays the most ($55,770).
Cooks Fast Food Job Market in Kentucky
Key factors affecting compensation
Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Cooks Fast Food here earn $25,300 on average, placing the state 48th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $25,300 is roughly equivalent to $30,482 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Iowa ($27,600), Alabama ($27,570), Georgia ($27,560) are the closest alternatives for Cooks Fast Food 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
- Chefs and Head Cooks $55,770/yr Kentucky +120.4% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation $39,320/yr Kentucky +55.4% vs this role
- Waiters and Waitresses $35,410/yr Kentucky +40.0% vs this role
- Bartenders $34,970/yr Kentucky +38.2% vs this role
- Cooks Institution and Cafeteria $33,790/yr Kentucky +33.6% vs this role
- Cooks Restaurant $33,700/yr Kentucky +33.2% vs this role
- Fast Food and Counter Workers $26,890/yr Kentucky +6.3% vs this role
- Dining Room Attendants and Bartender Helpers $26,350/yr Kentucky +4.2% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Cooks Fast Food salary in Kentucky?
The average Cooks Fast Food salary in Kentucky is $25,300 per year (median $23,500), which is 21.9% below the national average of $32,390.
How does Kentucky rank for Cooks Fast Food pay?
Kentucky ranks 48th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($43,710/yr).
How much do entry-level Cooks Fast Food make in Kentucky?
The lowest-paid 10% of Cooks Fast Food in Kentucky earn about $21,220 per year and the 25th percentile is $22,030.
How much do Cooks Fast Food make per hour in Kentucky?
About $12.16 per hour, based on the $25,300 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Cooks Fast Food work in Kentucky?
BLS counts 21,750 Cooks Fast Food jobs in Kentucky (OEWS May 2025).
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