Food Preparation Workers Salary in Kentucky
In Kentucky, food preparation workers earn a median $26,850 a year, well below the national median of $35,320 (−24%); the state ranks 49th of 51 states by median. That is 43% less than the median across all occupations in Kentucky ($46,920). Every neighbouring state pays more: Virginia, Illinois, Ohio, Missouri, Indiana, Tennessee and West Virginia range from $28,360 in West Virginia to $34,900 in Virginia. Kentucky employs 15,390 food preparation workers, 7.70 per 1,000 jobs, the 21st largest count of any state. A location quotient of 1.34 means the occupation is more concentrated in Kentucky than nationally.
Kentucky vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Kentucky | Hourly | $10.05 | $10.96 | $12.91 | $16.29 | $18.19 | $13.83 | 15,390 | 7.70 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $20,900 | $22,790 | $26,850 | $33,890 | $37,830 | $28,760 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $12.41 | $14.40 | $16.98 | $18.53 | $21.80 | $16.96 | 893,600 | – | – |
| Annual | $25,810 | $29,950 | $35,320 | $38,550 | $45,340 | $35,290 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 49th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 21st of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 1.34
- Jobs per 1,000
- 7.70
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Kentucky's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Kentucky
9 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Kentucky publish a row for food preparation workers, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $16.50 | $34,320 | $24,230 | $44,420 | 5,320 | 4.84 | 0.84 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $14.25 | $29,640 | $21,250 | $39,980 | 4,910 | 7.17 | 1.25 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $13.14 | $27,340 | $22,180 | $37,420 | 2,310 | 8.06 | 1.40 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $13.08 | $27,210 | $21,300 | $36,260 | 480 | 9.48 | 1.65 |
| Owensboro, KY | $13.04 | $27,130 | $21,840 | $36,280 | 460 | 9.39 | 1.63 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $12.99 | $27,030 | $21,290 | $37,380 | 790 | 7.63 | 1.33 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $12.70 | $26,410 | $21,310 | $36,690 | 660 | 8.04 | 1.40 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $12.00 | $24,960 | $18,730 | $35,910 | 850 | 6.04 | 1.05 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $11.35 | $23,600 | $21,170 | $35,760 | 490 | 9.47 | 1.65 |
| Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $12.00 | $24,960 | $20,230 | $34,510 | 1,140 | 6.61 | 1.15 |
| South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $11.23 | $23,370 | $20,440 | $34,190 | 1,210 | 7.02 | 1.22 |
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $11.06 | $22,990 | $20,930 | $34,510 | 1,020 | 7.95 | 1.38 |
| East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $10.95 | $22,780 | $18,430 | $33,540 | 770 | 8.33 | 1.45 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $12.91 | $26,850 | 15,390 | 1.34 |
| Illinois | $16.75 | $34,850 | 34,820 | 0.99 |
| Indiana | $14.28 | $29,700 | 16,200 | 0.88 |
| Missouri | $15.15 | $31,510 | 13,650 | 0.81 |
| Ohio | $16.60 | $34,530 | 19,480 | 0.61 |
| Tennessee | $13.80 | $28,700 | 19,780 | 1.05 |
| Virginia | $16.78 | $34,900 | 16,340 | 0.69 |
| West Virginia | $13.63 | $28,360 | 2,960 | 0.73 |
See the national page for Food Preparation Workers (every state ranked) and the Kentucky wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Kentucky estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.