Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Bowling Green
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,110 a year or less, while the top 10% make $87,240 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Bowling Green earn between $38,430 and $69,430.
- $26K10th
- $38K25th
- $54KMedian
- $69K75th
- $87K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $54,770 | $4,564 | $26.33 |
| Median | $54,080 | $4,507 | $26.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,430 | $3,202 | $18.48 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $69,430 | $5,786 | $33.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Bowling Green vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Bowling Green earn about the same as the Kentucky average ($55,770) and 18% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | $54,770 | $54,080 | $26,110 | $87,240 | 50 |
| Kentucky | $55,770 | $48,070 | $31,550 | $88,410 | 1,790 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Bowling Green
On the average salary of $54,770, a single filer in Bowling Green takes home about $43,293 a year, or $3,608 a month and $1,665 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
Is Bowling Green a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bowling Green area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.2), so the average $54,770 buys what about $60,735 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Bowling Green ($45,040). A typical home costs $267,047, or 4.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Kentucky cities
Bowling Green ranks 3rd of 5 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Lexington pays the most ($61,090).
- Lexington$61,090
- Louisville$55,810
- Bowling Green$54,770
- Owensboro$52,010
- Paducah$49,810
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Bowling Green: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Bowling Green?
$26.33 an hour on average, and $26.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Bowling Green?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,110 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,430, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Bowling Green?
About $43,293 a year ($3,608 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $54,770. Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Bowling Green than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Bowling Green, KY (14540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.47, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.47).
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