Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Louisville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,710 a year or less, while the top 10% make $94,990 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Louisville earn between $36,850 and $64,480.
- $36K10th
- $37K25th
- $46KMedian
- $64K75th
- $95K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $55,810 | $4,651 | $26.83 |
| Median | $46,310 | $3,859 | $22.26 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,850 | $3,071 | $17.72 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $64,480 | $5,373 | $31.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Louisville vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Louisville earn about the same as the Kentucky average ($55,770) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -26% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $55,810 | $46,310 | $35,710 | $94,990 | 750 |
| 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 Louisville
On the average salary of $55,810, a single filer in Louisville takes home about $43,960 a year, or $3,663 a month and $1,691 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $45,379 | $3,782 |
| Working in KY | $43,960 | $3,663 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Is Louisville a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Louisville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.1), so the average $55,810 buys what about $59,963 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Louisville ($48,370). A typical home costs $283,232, or 5.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Kentucky cities
Louisville ranks 2nd 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 Louisville: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Louisville?
$26.83 an hour on average, and $22.27 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Louisville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,710 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,850, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Louisville?
About $43,960 a year ($3,663 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $55,810. Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Louisville than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN (31140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 9.4%.
- 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 Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.85, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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