Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary
in Owensboro, KY
- Middle 50%
- $29,880–$34,050
- vs U.S. median
- -19%
- Metro rank
- #364 of 435
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Owensboro, KY metro earn a median of $30,170 a year, based on BLS estimates for 330 jobs (May 2025). That is 19% below the U.S. median of $37,450 and 4% below the KY statewide median of $31,550. It ranks #364 of 435 metros with published figures for this job.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE330 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Full percentile breakdown
BLS · metro vs U.S.
Were you outpaid?
Your salary is ranked in your browser and never uploaded.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in other KY metros
8 metros · BLS
| Metro | Median |
|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $37,370 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $36,470 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $35,310 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $31,550 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $30,260 |
| Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $29,920 |
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $29,800 |
| South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $28,950 |
Turn your result into a raise plan.
Run the free check first for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria. If you want to act on it, the Dossier turns your result into a target number (the 75th percentile for your job and metro), the employers that report paying more (where filing data exists), a raise or counter-offer script filled in with your numbers, and a one-page summary for your manager.
- ✓ Built from BLS and DOL data
- ✓ PDF generated in your browser
- ✓ 7-day money-back guarantee
RELATED JOBS IN OWENSBORO
Questions
What is the average Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Owensboro?
The BLS median is $30,170 a year (May 2025). Half of the 330 jobs pay between $29,880 and $34,050. The 10th percentile is $27,090 and the 90th is $34,620.
Is Owensboro a high-paying metro for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria?
That is 19% below the U.S. median of $37,450 and 4% below the KY statewide median of $31,550. It ranks #364 of 435 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.
How much do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make an hour in Owensboro?
About $14.50 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $30,170 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $14.37–$16.37 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.