Cooks, Short Order pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,440 or more. The middle half of cooks, short order in Lexington earn between $30,850 and $45,780.
- $25K10th
- $31K25th
- $39KMedian
- $46K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,030 | $3,086 | $17.80 |
| Median | $39,040 | $3,253 | $18.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,850 | $2,571 | $14.83 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $45,780 | $3,815 | $22.01 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Short Order pay in Lexington vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Cooks, short order in Lexington earn 12% more than the Kentucky average ($33,160) and about the same as the U.S. average ($36,120). At the median the gap is +9% against the U.S. median of $35,880.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $37,030 | $39,040 | $25,040 | $47,440 | 130 |
| Kentucky | $33,160 | $31,840 | $22,860 | $44,880 | 650 |
| United States | $36,120 | $35,880 | $23,440 | $46,460 | 138,650 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Short Order salary after taxes in Lexington
On the average salary of $37,030, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $29,737 a year, or $2,478 a month and $1,144 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, short order? 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 $37,030 buys what about $39,865 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 8.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Short Order salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 1st of 3 Kentucky metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Lexington$37,030
- Louisville$31,430
- Bowling Green$29,550
Highest-paying cities for cooks, short order
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($52,560).
- Kahului, HI$52,560
- Denver, CO$51,530
- Seattle, WA$49,560
- Corvallis, OR$48,580
- San Francisco, CA$46,250
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Cooks, Short Order salary in Lexington: questions
How much do cooks, short order make an hour in Lexington?
$17.80 an hour on average, and $18.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, short order salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,850, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, short order take-home pay in Lexington?
About $29,737 a year ($2,478 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,030. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do cooks, short order earn more in Lexington than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($36,120).
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 35-2015; area Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 10.1%.
- 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 0.51, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.51).
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