Food Preparation Worker Salary in Lexington, KY
Food Preparation Workers in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn a median $27,340 a year — 23% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $23,285 take-home, or $1,940 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Lexington, KY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,124
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,695
- Medicare (1.45%)$396
- Kentucky income tax$839
- Take-home pay$23,285
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.50% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Lexington, KY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,180 | $10.66 | $19,217 | $1,601 |
| 25th percentile | $24,230 | $11.65 | $20,833 | $1,736 |
| Median (50th) | $27,340 | $13.14 | $23,285 | $1,940 |
| 75th percentile | $34,750 | $16.71 | $29,003 | $2,417 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,420 | $17.99 | $31,055 | $2,588 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kentucky resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $27,340 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 food preparation worker's $23,285 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,068 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Lexington, KY has 1.4× the national concentration of food preparation worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Lexington, KY ranks #240 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 240 | Lexington, KY | $27,340 | $23,285 | $25,068 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Kentucky
- Louisville, KY — $29,640
- Paducah, KY — $27,210
- Owensboro, KY — $27,130
- Bowling Green, KY — $26,410
- Elizabethtown, KY — $23,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Lexington, KY?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area is $27,340 a year, or about $13.14 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $24,230 and $34,750.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Lexington, KY?
On the median $27,340 salary, a single filer living in Kentucky takes home about $23,285 a year ($1,940 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $839 in Kentucky taxes in 2026.
Is Lexington, KY a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 23% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 7.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,068 would in a typical U.S. city. Lexington, KY ranks #240 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker 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) — 56% of a median food preparation worker’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
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,970
- 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
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,840
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $24,090