Careers · Cooks, Restaurant · Kentucky
Cooks, Restaurant in Kentucky
Restaurant cooks prepare, season, and cook dishes like soups, meats, vegetables, and desserts in restaurant kitchens. They may also order supplies, keep records, price menu items, or help plan menus In Kentucky the median pay is $34,640 a year, 7% below the national median of $37,390.
$34,640median pay in Kentucky, per year
$28,850–$37,200middle half earn
13,510employed in Kentucky
$37,390U.S. median, for comparison
Are you suited for this?
Four short assessments and your background, scored against cooks, restaurant and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
Four short assessments and your background, scored against cooks, restaurant and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
Who is hiring in Kentucky
146open roles like this on employer career sites, 0 in Kentucky or remote
11employers hiring
5posted in the last 7 days
FL · NY · MAwhere most openings are
What it takes
Preparation: Some preparation (usually high school; some on-the-job training). Most hold a high school diploma.
Skills that matter most
SpeakingCritical ThinkingMonitoringTime ManagementActive ListeningReading ComprehensionActive LearningCoordination
Knowledge areas
Food ProductionEnglish LanguageCustomer and Personal Service
Full profile, interests that fit, certifications and training: Cooks, Restaurant.
Licenses and training in Kentucky
Cooks, Restaurant pay in other states
Washington · $46,800District of Columbia · $46,130Massachusetts · $45,600Hawaii · $45,420Vermont · $45,390Maine · $45,290California · $44,880New York · $43,680Oregon · $43,100Colorado · $41,600
Related occupations
Cooks, Fast FoodCooks, Institution and CafeteriaCooks, Private HouseholdCooks, Short OrderCooks, All OtherFood Preparation WorkersChefs and Head CooksFirst-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
Are you suited for this?
Four short assessments and your background, scored against cooks, restaurant and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
Four short assessments and your background, scored against cooks, restaurant and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
O*NET-SOC 35-2014.00. Pay: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Kentucky, annual.