Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Owensboro, KY

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Owensboro, KY

Median annual salary $22,750 -24.6% vs national
Median hourly $10.94
10th percentile $21,030
90th percentile $29,920
Employed locally 500
National median $30,160

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Cooks, Fast Food
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Owensboro, KY
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $21,030
    25th
    $21,410
    50th (median)
    $22,750
    75th
    $27,630
    90th
    $29,920

    Owensboro economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $65,656 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 35% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 65% 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 Owensboro, KY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $26,370
    Waiters and Waitresses $22,590
    Food Preparation Workers $23,930
    Cooks, Restaurant $30,160
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $35,130
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $30,050

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Owensboro, KY is $10.94, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $14.01 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Owensboro, KY is 24.6% 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 Owensboro?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $21,030 per year in Owensboro, KY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $21,410.