Cooks, Fast Food pay range in Louisville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $35,050 or more. The middle half of cooks, fast food in Louisville earn between $22,080 and $28,640.
- $22K10th
- $22K25th
- $27KMedian
- $29K75th
- $35K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $26,590 | $2,216 | $12.78 |
| Median | $26,990 | $2,249 | $12.98 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $22,080 | $1,840 | $10.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $28,640 | $2,387 | $13.77 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Fast Food pay in Louisville vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Cooks, fast food in Louisville earn 5% more than the Kentucky average ($25,300) and 18% less than the U.S. average ($32,390). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $30,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $26,590 | $26,990 | $21,990 | $35,050 | 5,060 |
| Kentucky | $25,300 | $23,500 | $21,220 | $30,000 | 21,750 |
| United States | $32,390 | $30,890 | $22,580 | $42,910 | 641,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Fast Food salary after taxes in Louisville
On the average salary of $26,590, a single filer in Louisville takes home about $22,109 a year, or $1,842 a month and $850 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% 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 | $22,739 | $1,895 |
| Working in KY | $22,109 | $1,842 |
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, fast food? 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 $26,590 buys what about $28,569 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 10.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other Kentucky cities
Louisville ranks 1st of 5 Kentucky metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Louisville$26,590
- Lexington$26,180
- Bowling Green$25,170
- Elizabethtown$25,020
- Owensboro$24,560
Highest-paying cities for cooks, fast food
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($46,590).
- San Francisco, CA$46,590
- San Jose, CA$46,530
- Vallejo, CA$44,360
- Napa, CA$43,910
- Seattle, WA$43,770
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Cooks, Fast Food salary in Louisville: questions
How much do cooks, fast food make an hour in Louisville?
$12.79 an hour on average, and $12.98 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, fast food salary in Louisville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $22,080, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, fast food take-home pay in Louisville?
About $22,109 a year ($1,842 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $26,590. Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Do cooks, fast food earn more in Louisville than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% less than the U.S. average for this job ($32,390).
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 35-2011; area Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN (31140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- 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 1.79, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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