Cook Salary in Kentucky (2026)
$16.65 per hour · take-home ≈ $28,801/year ($2,400/month) for a single filer
Cook pay range in Kentucky
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $24,750 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $28,850 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $34,640 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $37,200 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $43,750 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 13,510 Cook jobs in Kentucky (occupation code 35-2014, “Cooks, Restaurant”).
Gross vs. take-home in Kentucky
A median Cook salary of $34,640 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 $28,801 — an effective tax rate of 16.9%.
| Gross (median) | $34,640 |
| Federal income tax | −$1,977 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,650 |
| Kentucky state income tax | −$1,212 |
| Take-home (annual) | $28,801 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,400 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Kentucky paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cook make in Kentucky?
- The median Cook salary in Kentucky is $34,640 per year ($16.65 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $28,850 and $37,200.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cook in Kentucky?
- On the median salary of $34,640, a single filer in Kentucky takes home about $28,801 per year ($2,400 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.9%.
- How many Cook jobs are there in Kentucky?
- BLS counts 13,510 Cook jobs in Kentucky in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for 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.