Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Paducah, KY-IL

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Paducah, KY-IL

Median annual salary $31,450 -13.7% vs national
Median hourly $15.12
10th percentile $23,720
90th percentile $45,590
Employed locally 340
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
    $23,720
    25th
    $27,910
    50th (median)
    $31,450
    75th
    $35,550
    90th
    $45,590

    Paducah economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $62,286 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 50% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 50% 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
    Bowling Green, KY $30,850
    Kentucky $30,770

    Related occupations in Paducah, KY-IL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,620
    Waiters and Waitresses $20,510
    Cooks, Fast Food $23,120
    Cooks, Restaurant $29,270
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $36,400
    Food Preparation Workers $24,200

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Paducah, KY-IL is $15.12, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $27.21 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Paducah, KY-IL is 13.7% 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 Paducah?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $23,720 per year in Paducah, KY-IL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $27,910.