Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,440 a year or less, while the top 10% make $50,380 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Lexington earn between $33,740 and $40,140.
- $29K10th
- $34K25th
- $36KMedian
- $40K75th
- $50K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,830 | $3,152 | $18.19 |
| Median | $36,470 | $3,039 | $17.53 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,740 | $2,812 | $16.22 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $40,140 | $3,345 | $19.30 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Lexington vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Lexington earn 12% more than the Kentucky average ($33,790) and about the same as the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $37,830 | $36,470 | $29,440 | $50,380 | 1,410 |
| Kentucky | $33,790 | $31,550 | $25,580 | $45,720 | 11,540 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Lexington
On the average salary of $37,830, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $30,330 a year, or $2,527 a month and $1,167 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Is Lexington a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $37,830 buys what about $40,726 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 8.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 3rd of 6 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Paducah pays the most ($38,610).
- Paducah$38,610
- Louisville$38,550
- Lexington$37,830
- Bowling Green$32,360
- Elizabethtown$32,120
- Owensboro$31,320
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Lexington: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Lexington?
$18.19 an hour on average, and $17.53 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,440 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,740, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Lexington?
About $30,330 a year ($2,527 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,830. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Lexington than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
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 35-2012; area Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- 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 Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.73, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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