Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Lexington, KY
Cooks, Restaurant in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn a median $35,970 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,941 take-home, or $2,495 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Lexington, KY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,136
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,230
- Medicare (1.45%)$522
- Kentucky income tax$1,141
- Take-home pay$29,941
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.50% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Lexington, KY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,130 | $13.52 | $23,908 | $1,992 |
| 25th percentile | $30,100 | $14.47 | $25,429 | $2,119 |
| Median (50th) | $35,970 | $17.29 | $29,941 | $2,495 |
| 75th percentile | $37,250 | $17.91 | $30,924 | $2,577 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,680 | $21.00 | $35,866 | $2,989 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kentucky resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,970 buys in Lexington, KY
Prices in Lexington, KY are 7.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 23% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $29,941 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,233 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Lexington, KY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Lexington, KY ranks #138 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
| 138 | Lexington, KY | $35,970 | $29,941 | $32,233 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Kentucky
- Louisville, KY — $35,950
- Paducah, KY — $31,200
- Bowling Green, KY — $31,040
- Owensboro, KY — $30,010
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Lexington, KY?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area is $35,970 a year, or about $17.29 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,100 and $37,250.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Lexington, KY?
On the median $35,970 salary, a single filer living in Kentucky takes home about $29,941 a year ($2,495 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,141 in Kentucky taxes in 2026.
Is Lexington, KY a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 7.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,233 would in a typical U.S. city. Lexington, KY ranks #138 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Lexington, KY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lexington, KY is $1,079 a month ($1,272 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Lexington, KY
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,470
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,350
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,910
- Dishwasher — $31,110
- Bartender — $30,640
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,990
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $27,920
- Food Preparation Worker — $27,340
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,840
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $24,090