Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN

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

Median annual salary $35,140 -4.6% vs national
Median hourly $16.89
10th percentile $27,130
90th percentile $43,300
Employed locally 5,580
National median $36,830

Compare Cooks, Restaurant salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $27,130
    25th
    $29,590
    50th (median)
    $35,140
    75th
    $37,010
    90th
    $43,300

    Louisville/Jefferson County economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $71,737 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 49% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 51% 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
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $34,870
    Lexington-Fayette, KY $34,520
    Sandusky, OH $34,070
    Kentucky $30,960
    Clarksville, TN-KY $30,320
    Bowling Green, KY $30,180

    Related occupations in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,340
    Waiters and Waitresses $25,680
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,420
    Food Preparation Workers $27,610
    Cooks, Fast Food $27,040
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $36,650

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Louisville/Jefferson County?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN is $16.89, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.39 or more per hour.

    Is Louisville/Jefferson County above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN is 4.6% 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 Louisville/Jefferson County?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $27,130 per year in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,590.