Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Owensboro, KY

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

Median annual salary $30,160 -18.1% vs national
Median hourly $14.50
10th percentile $22,460
90th percentile $37,360
Employed locally 430
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Owensboro, KY
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $22,460
    25th
    $27,960
    50th (median)
    $30,160
    75th
    $34,370
    90th
    $37,360

    Owensboro economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $65,656 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 46% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 54% 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 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
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $35,130
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $30,050

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Owensboro?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Owensboro, KY is $14.50, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.97 or more per hour.

    Is Owensboro above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Owensboro, 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 Owensboro?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $22,460 per year in Owensboro, KY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $27,960.