Fast Food and Counter Workers Pay Range in Kentucky
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$21,590
- 25th Percentile — Junior$22,800
- 50th Percentile — Median$27,130
- 75th Percentile — Senior$29,680
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$34,420
Half of Fast Food and Counter Workers in Kentucky earn more than $27,130. The top 10% make $34,420 or more, while entry-level workers start around $21,590.
Fast Food and Counter Workers in Kentucky: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Kentucky ranks 46th of 51 states for Fast Food and Counter Workers pay, at $26,890 per year (16.4% below the U.S. average of $32,150).
- 41,860 people work as Fast Food and Counter Workers in Kentucky — 1.1% of all U.S. Fast Food and Counter Workers jobs.
- Location quotient 0.84: Fast Food and Counter Workers jobs are less concentrated in Kentucky than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $21,590; the top 10% earn over $34,420.
- Hourly equivalent: $12.93 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $41,680.
- Among hospitality jobs in Kentucky, Chefs and Head Cooks pays the most ($55,770).
Fast Food and Counter Workers Job Market in Kentucky
Key factors affecting compensation
Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Fast Food and Counter Workers here earn $26,890 on average, placing the state 46th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $26,890 is roughly equivalent to $32,398 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Wyoming ($27,520), Georgia ($27,290), Kansas ($27,190) are the closest alternatives for Fast Food and Counter Workers 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 +107.4% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation $39,320/yr Kentucky +46.2% vs this role
- Waiters and Waitresses $35,410/yr Kentucky +31.7% vs this role
- Bartenders $34,970/yr Kentucky +30.0% vs this role
- Cooks Institution and Cafeteria $33,790/yr Kentucky +25.7% vs this role
- Cooks Restaurant $33,700/yr Kentucky +25.3% vs this role
- Dining Room Attendants and Bartender Helpers $26,350/yr Kentucky 2.0% vs this role
- Cooks Fast Food $25,300/yr Kentucky 5.9% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Kentucky?
The average Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Kentucky is $26,890 per year (median $27,130), which is 16.4% below the national average of $32,150.
How does Kentucky rank for Fast Food and Counter Workers pay?
Kentucky ranks 46th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is California ($41,680/yr).
How much do entry-level Fast Food and Counter Workers make in Kentucky?
The lowest-paid 10% of Fast Food and Counter Workers in Kentucky earn about $21,590 per year and the 25th percentile is $22,800.
How much do Fast Food and Counter Workers make per hour in Kentucky?
About $12.93 per hour, based on the $26,890 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Fast Food and Counter Workers work in Kentucky?
BLS counts 41,860 Fast Food and Counter Workers jobs in Kentucky (OEWS May 2025).
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