Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Owensboro, KY

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

Median annual salary $30,050 -17.6% vs national
Median hourly $14.45
10th percentile $26,230
90th percentile $34,040
Employed locally 290
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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Owensboro, KY
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $26,230
    25th
    $27,570
    50th (median)
    $30,050
    75th
    $30,990
    90th
    $34,040

    Owensboro economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $65,656 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 46% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 54% 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
    Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $36,650
    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

    Related occupations in Owensboro, KY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $26,370
    Waiters and Waitresses $22,590
    Cooks, Fast Food $22,750
    Food Preparation Workers $23,930
    Cooks, Restaurant $30,160
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $35,130

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make per hour in Owensboro?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Owensboro, KY is $14.45, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $16.65 or more per hour.

    Is Owensboro above or below average for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries?

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Owensboro, KY is 17.6% below 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 Owensboro?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $26,230 per year in Owensboro, KY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $27,570.