Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Bowling Green, KY

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

Median annual salary $30,180 -18.1% vs national
Median hourly $14.51
10th percentile $22,470
90th percentile $37,610
Employed locally 560
National median $36,830

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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $22,470
    25th
    $28,320
    50th (median)
    $30,180
    75th
    $35,450
    90th
    $37,610

    Bowling Green economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $62,437 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 48% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 52% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $35,140
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $34,870
    Lexington-Fayette, KY $34,520
    Sandusky, OH $34,070
    Kentucky $30,960
    Clarksville, TN-KY $30,320

    Related occupations in Bowling Green, KY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,580
    Waiters and Waitresses $20,950
    Cooks, Fast Food $23,350
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,440
    Food Preparation Workers $24,080
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $30,850

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Bowling Green, KY is $14.51, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $18.98 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Bowling Green, KY is 18.1% below the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

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

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $22,470 per year in Bowling Green, KY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $28,320.