Elizabethtown, KY · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Elizabethtown, KY

In the Elizabethtown, KY metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $34,800 ($16.73/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $24,900/year and the 90th was $44,000/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Kentucky tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $29,041 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 90.6 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$34,800$16.73 per hour · $2,900 monthly
10th Percentile$24,900$11.97/hr base
25th Percentile$29,000$13.94/hr base
75th Percentile$37,400$17.98/hr base
90th Percentile$44,000$21.15/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$34,800
$15,000$70,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$34,800
Net 83%
Fed 6%
KY 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$29,041After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,420Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,117Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16.6%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,996 / yr
Kentucky state income tax$1,100 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,662 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Elizabethtown, KY

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Cooks, Restaurant in the Elizabethtown, KY Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (KY)
10th Percentile$11.97/hr$2,075$24,900$21,361
25th Percentile$13.94/hr$2,417$29,000$24,584
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$16.73/hr$2,900$34,800$29,041
75th Percentile$17.98/hr$3,117$37,400$31,040
90th Percentile$21.15/hr$3,667$44,000$36,112

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Elizabethtown, KY

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$34,800 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$67,534Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index90.69.4% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio51.5%of area median income

Compare restaurant cooks salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Kentucky:

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Elizabethtown, KY

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Elizabethtown, KY?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Elizabethtown, KY is $34,800, which equates to approximately $2,900 per month or $16.73 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Elizabethtown, KY?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Elizabethtown, KY is $16.73 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $11.97/hour and one in ten earned more than $21.15/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Elizabethtown, KY?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Elizabethtown, KY span from $24,900 at the 10th percentile to $29,000 at the 25th, $37,400 at the 75th, and $44,000 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Elizabethtown, KY?

On a median gross salary of $34,800, an estimated $29,041 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,117 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Kentucky in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,759 (an effective rate of 16.5%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Elizabethtown, KY?

On the median annual salary of $34,800, gross monthly income is $2,900. After federal, FICA, and Kentucky state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,420 per month (or $1,117 every two weeks).

Is $34,800 a good salary in Elizabethtown, KY?

At $34,800, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 51.5% of the Elizabethtown, KY median household income ($67,534). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 90.6, making regional consumer goods and services 9.4% cheaper than the U.S. average.