Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Bowling Green, KY

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Bowling Green, KY

Median annual salary $23,350 -22.6% vs national
Median hourly $11.22
10th percentile $20,800
90th percentile $30,300
Employed locally 910
National median $30,160

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Cooks, Fast Food
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $20,800
    25th
    $21,580
    50th (median)
    $23,350
    75th
    $28,430
    90th
    $30,300

    Bowling Green economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $62,437 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 37% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 63% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Fast Food

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,580
    Hawaii $40,300
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Fast Food salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $28,830
    Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $27,040
    Sandusky, OH $26,980
    Clarksville, TN-KY $26,250
    Lexington-Fayette, KY $26,050
    Elizabethtown, KY $23,970

    Related occupations in Bowling Green, KY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$27,580
    Waiters and Waitresses$20,950
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$37,440
    Food Preparation Workers$24,080
    Cooks, Restaurant$30,180
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$30,850

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in Bowling Green?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Bowling Green, KY is $11.22, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $15.04 or more per hour.

    Is Bowling Green above or below average for Cooks, Fast Food salaries?

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Bowling Green, KY is 22.6% below the national median of $30,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Bowling Green?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $20,800 per year in Bowling Green, KY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $21,580.