Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN

Median annual salary $44,220 -27.5% vs national
Median hourly $21.26
10th percentile $27,110
90th percentile $92,040
Employed locally 780
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $27,110
    25th
    $35,760
    50th (median)
    $44,220
    75th
    $63,240
    90th
    $92,040

    Louisville/Jefferson County economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $71,737 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 62% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 38% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Sandusky, OH $59,480
    Rocky Mount, NC $57,920
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $55,660
    Lexington-Fayette, KY $53,490
    Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH $52,010
    East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $50,520

    Related occupations in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,340
    Waiters and Waitresses $25,680
    Cooks, Restaurant $35,140
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,420
    Food Preparation Workers $27,610
    Cooks, Fast Food $27,040

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Louisville/Jefferson County?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN is $21.26, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $45.67 or more per hour.

    Is Louisville/Jefferson County above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN is 27.5% below the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Louisville/Jefferson County?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $27,110 per year in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,760.