Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Paducah, KY-IL

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

Median annual salary $29,270 -20.5% vs national
Median hourly $14.07
10th percentile $26,540
90th percentile $36,410
Employed locally 520
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $26,540
    25th
    $28,470
    50th (median)
    $29,270
    75th
    $34,440
    90th
    $36,410

    Paducah economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $62,286 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 47% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 53% 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 Paducah, KY-IL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$27,620
    Waiters and Waitresses$20,510
    Cooks, Fast Food$23,120
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$36,400
    Food Preparation Workers$24,200
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$31,450

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Paducah, KY-IL is $14.07, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.86 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Paducah, KY-IL is 20.5% 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 Paducah?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $26,540 per year in Paducah, KY-IL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $28,470.