Food Preparation Workers Salary in Kentucky
As of May 2025, the median annual wage for food preparation workers in Kentucky was $26,850 -24.0% vs national
Kentucky vs United States
| Kentucky | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $26,850 | $35,320 |
| Median hourly | $12.91 | $16.98 |
| Employment | 15,390 | 893,600 |
| Location quotient | 1.34 | 1.00 |
Data source: BLS OES state file (Kentucky) · U.S. BLS OES survey, May 2025
How to interpret these figures
Pay spans a wide range: workers at the 10th percentile earn about $20,900, while those at the 90th percentile earn about $37,830 — a 1.8x gap between entry-level and top earners.
At $12.91 per hour, a full-time schedule (2,080 hours per year) works out to roughly $26,853 — in line with the reported median annual wage of $26,850.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average food preparation workers salary in Kentucky?
The median annual wage in Kentucky is $26,850 ($12.91 per hour), per BLS OES May 2025 data.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for food preparation workers?
The Kentucky median of $26,850 is 24.0% lower than the U.S. median of $35,320.
How many food preparation workers work in Kentucky?
Approximately 15,390 are employed in Kentucky, per BLS OES.