Salaries › Cafeteria Cook › Kentucky
Cafeteria Cook Salary in Kentucky (2026)
$15.17 per hour · take-home ≈ $26,426/year ($2,202/month) for a single filer
Kentucky ranks 45th of 51 states for Cafeteria Cook pay, with a median about 17% below the national average. Of the 11,540 Cafeteria Cook jobs BLS counts in Kentucky, the typical worker earns $31,550 a year — though pay ranges from $25,580 for newcomers to $45,720 at the top.
Cafeteria Cook pay range in Kentucky
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $25,580 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $28,880 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $31,550 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $37,370 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $45,720 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 11,540 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Kentucky (occupation code 35-2012, “Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria”).
Gross vs. take-home in Kentucky
A median Cafeteria Cook salary of $31,550 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Kentucky state income tax, a single filer keeps about $26,426 — an effective tax rate of 16.2%.
| Gross (median) | $31,550 |
| Federal income tax | −$1,606 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,414 |
| Kentucky state income tax | −$1,104 |
| Take-home (annual) | $26,426 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,202 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Kentucky paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cafeteria Cook make in Kentucky?
- The median Cafeteria Cook salary in Kentucky is $31,550 per year ($15.17 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $28,880 and $37,370.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cafeteria Cook in Kentucky?
- On the median salary of $31,550, a single filer in Kentucky takes home about $26,426 per year ($2,202 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.2%.
- How many Cafeteria Cook jobs are there in Kentucky?
- BLS counts 11,540 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Kentucky in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Cafeteria Cooks
Other salaries in Kentucky
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Kentucky state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Kentucky.