Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH

In the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $34,000 ($16.35/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $24,300/year and the 90th was $42,900/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Kentucky tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $28,427 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 88.4 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$34,000$16.35 per hour · $2,833 monthly
10th Percentile$24,300$11.68/hr base
25th Percentile$28,300$13.61/hr base
75th Percentile$36,500$17.55/hr base
90th Percentile$42,900$20.63/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

$34,000
$15,000$70,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$34,000
Net 84%
Fed 6%
KY 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$28,427After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,369Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,093Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16.4%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,900 / yr
Kentucky state income tax$1,072 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,601 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH

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 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (KY)
10th Percentile$11.68/hr$2,025$24,300$20,888
25th Percentile$13.61/hr$2,358$28,300$24,042
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$16.35/hr$2,833$34,000$28,427
75th Percentile$17.55/hr$3,042$36,500$30,348
90th Percentile$20.63/hr$3,575$42,900$35,266

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$34,000 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$60,078Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index88.411.6% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio56.6%of area median income

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH is $34,000, which equates to approximately $2,833 per month or $16.35 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH is $16.35 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $11.68/hour and one in ten earned more than $20.63/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH span from $24,300 at the 10th percentile to $28,300 at the 25th, $36,500 at the 75th, and $42,900 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH?

On a median gross salary of $34,000, an estimated $28,427 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,093 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Kentucky in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,573 (an effective rate of 16.4%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH?

On the median annual salary of $34,000, gross monthly income is $2,833. After federal, FICA, and Kentucky state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,369 per month (or $1,093 every two weeks).

Is $34,000 a good salary in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH?

At $34,000, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 56.6% of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH median household income ($60,078). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 88.4, making regional consumer goods and services 11.6% cheaper than the U.S. average.