Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Louisville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,710 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,670 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Louisville earn between $34,040 and $44,690.
- $30K10th
- $34K25th
- $37KMedian
- $45K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,550 | $3,212 | $18.53 |
| Median | $37,370 | $3,114 | $17.97 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,040 | $2,837 | $16.37 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,690 | $3,724 | $21.49 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Louisville vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Louisville earn 14% more than the Kentucky average ($33,790) and about the same as the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -0% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $38,550 | $37,370 | $29,710 | $46,670 | 2,700 |
| 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 Louisville
On the average salary of $38,550, a single filer in Louisville takes home about $31,075 a year, or $2,590 a month and $1,195 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 | $32,028 | $2,669 |
| Working in KY | $31,075 | $2,590 |
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 cooks, institution and cafeteria? 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 $38,550 buys what about $41,419 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Louisville ($48,370). A typical home costs $283,232, or 7.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Kentucky cities
Louisville ranks 2nd 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 Louisville: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Louisville?
$18.53 an hour on average, and $17.97 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Louisville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,710 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,040, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Louisville?
About $31,075 a year ($2,590 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,550. Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Louisville 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN (31140). 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 Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.39, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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