Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN

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

Median annual salary $36,650 +0.5% vs national
Median hourly $17.62
10th percentile $28,710
90th percentile $43,660
Employed locally 2,780
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $28,710
    25th
    $31,530
    50th (median)
    $36,650
    75th
    $43,660
    90th
    $43,660

    Louisville/Jefferson County economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $71,737 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 51% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 49% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $54,840
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,290
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $50,150
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,850
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    Washington $48,260

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $36,190
    Lexington-Fayette, KY $35,900
    Sandusky, OH $35,710
    Paducah, KY-IL $31,450
    Bowling Green, KY $30,850
    Kentucky $30,770

    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 Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make per hour in Louisville/Jefferson County?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN is $17.62, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.44 or more per hour.

    Is Louisville/Jefferson County above or below average for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries?

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN is 0.5% above the national median of $36,450. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Louisville/Jefferson County?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $28,710 per year in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $31,530.