Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Paducah
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,290 a year or less, while the top 10% make $79,230 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Paducah earn between $38,410 and $58,490.
- $34K10th
- $38K25th
- $45KMedian
- $58K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $49,810 | $4,151 | $23.95 |
| Median | $44,720 | $3,727 | $21.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,410 | $3,201 | $18.47 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $58,490 | $4,874 | $28.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Paducah vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Paducah earn 11% less than the Kentucky average ($55,770) and 25% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -28% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paducah | $49,810 | $44,720 | $34,290 | $79,230 | 40 |
| Kentucky | $55,770 | $48,070 | $31,550 | $88,410 | 1,790 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Paducah
On the average salary of $49,810, a single filer in Paducah takes home about $39,580 a year, or $3,298 a month and $1,522 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Paducah, KY-IL metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IL | $39,878 | $3,323 |
| Working in KY | $39,580 | $3,298 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
Is Paducah a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Paducah area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 86.1), so the average $49,810 buys what about $57,862 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Paducah ($45,860). A typical home costs $171,436, or 3.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Kentucky cities
Paducah ranks 5th of 5 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Lexington pays the most ($61,090).
- Lexington$61,090
- Louisville$55,810
- Bowling Green$54,770
- Owensboro$52,010
- Paducah$49,810
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Paducah: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Paducah?
$23.95 an hour on average, and $21.50 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Paducah?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,290 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,410, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Paducah?
About $39,580 a year ($3,298 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $49,810. Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Paducah than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
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 35-1011; area Paducah, KY-IL (37140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.1%.
- 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 Paducah's local income tax (2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.66, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.66).
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