Outpaid

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary
in Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area

Median base pay · Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area
$29,920
≈ $14.38/hr · BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1,160 jobs
Middle 50%
$28,340–$34,380
vs U.S. median
-20%
Metro rank
#367 of 435

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area metro earn a median of $29,920 a year, based on BLS estimates for 1,160 jobs (May 2025). That is 20% below the U.S. median of $37,450 and 5% below the KY statewide median of $31,550. It ranks #367 of 435 metros with published figures for this job.

COOKS, INSTITUTION AND CAFETERIA · CENTRAL KENTUCKY NONMETROPOLITAN AREA · BLS

Full percentile breakdown

BLS OEWS MAY 2025 · CENTRAL KENTUCKY NONMETROPOLITAN AREA · ALL EMPLOYERS, ALL EXPERIENCE LEVELS
P10$24,590P25$28,340MEDIAN$29,920P75$34,380P90$37,020
BLS · UNITED STATES
P10$28,480P25$32,440MEDIAN$37,450P75$44,800P90$49,670
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Questions

What is the average Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area?

The BLS median is $29,920 a year (May 2025). Half of the 1,160 jobs pay between $28,340 and $34,380. The 10th percentile is $24,590 and the 90th is $37,020.

Is Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area a high-paying metro for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria?

That is 20% below the U.S. median of $37,450 and 5% below the KY statewide median of $31,550. It ranks #367 of 435 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.

How much do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make an hour in Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area?

About $14.38 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $29,920 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $13.63–$16.53 an hour. Straight-time pay, before overtime and shift differentials.

Does this include experience levels?

BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).

Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.