Cooks, Short Order pay range in Louisville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $20,860 a year or less, while the top 10% make $43,680 or more. The middle half of cooks, short order in Louisville earn between $24,690 and $37,620.
- $21K10th
- $25K25th
- $30KMedian
- $38K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,430 | $2,619 | $15.11 |
| Median | $29,630 | $2,469 | $14.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $24,690 | $2,058 | $11.87 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,620 | $3,135 | $18.09 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Short Order pay in Louisville vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Cooks, short order in Louisville earn 5% less than the Kentucky average ($33,160) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($36,120). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $35,880.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $31,430 | $29,630 | $20,860 | $43,680 | 260 |
| 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 Louisville
On the average salary of $31,430, a single filer in Louisville takes home about $25,760 a year, or $2,147 a month and $991 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% 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 | $26,521 | $2,210 |
| Working in KY | $25,760 | $2,147 |
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, short order? 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 $31,430 buys what about $33,769 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Louisville ($48,370). A typical home costs $283,232, or 9.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Short Order salary in other Kentucky cities
Louisville ranks 2nd of 3 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Lexington pays the most ($37,030).
- 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 Louisville: questions
How much do cooks, short order make an hour in Louisville?
$15.11 an hour on average, and $14.24 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, short order salary in Louisville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $20,860 a year and the 25th percentile is $24,690, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, short order take-home pay in Louisville?
About $25,760 a year ($2,147 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,430. Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Do cooks, short order earn more in Louisville than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN (31140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.5%.
- 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 0.42, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.42).
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