Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Owensboro
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,250 a year or less, while the top 10% make $76,680 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Owensboro earn between $38,440 and $63,290.
- $32K10th
- $38K25th
- $48KMedian
- $63K75th
- $77K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,010 | $4,334 | $25.00 |
| Median | $47,620 | $3,968 | $22.89 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,440 | $3,203 | $18.48 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $63,290 | $5,274 | $30.43 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Owensboro vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Owensboro earn 7% less than the Kentucky average ($55,770) and 22% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -24% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owensboro | $52,010 | $47,620 | $32,250 | $76,680 | 30 |
| 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 Owensboro
On the average salary of $52,010, a single filer in Owensboro takes home about $41,342 a year, or $3,445 a month and $1,590 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 Owensboro's local income tax (1.78%).
Is Owensboro a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Owensboro area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.6), so the average $52,010 buys what about $58,695 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Owensboro ($44,960). A typical home costs $213,657, or 4.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Kentucky cities
Owensboro ranks 4th 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 Owensboro: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Owensboro?
$25.00 an hour on average, and $22.90 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Owensboro?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,250 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,440, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Owensboro?
About $41,342 a year ($3,445 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,010. Includes Owensboro's local income tax (1.78%).
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Owensboro than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% 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 Owensboro, KY (36980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.0%.
- 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 Owensboro's local income tax (1.78%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.50, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.50).
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