Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Bowling Green, KY

The median cooks, institution and cafeteria in Bowling Green, KY earns $31,550 a year, 16% below the US median. After tax that is roughly $2,189 a month.

10th percentile: $25,580
25th percentile: $30,850
Median percentile: $31,550
75th percentile: $33,160
90th percentile: $38,750

Based on 530 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.

What you keep

$26,268 take-home a year

Gross pay	$31,550
Federal income tax	−$1,606
Social Security + Medicare	−$2,414
Kentucky income tax (approx.)	−$1,262
Monthly take-home	$2,189
Every two weeks	$1,010

Does it go far here?

$34,986Median pay in Bowling Green, KY is worth this at average US prices (local price level 90.2 vs 100).

45%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($975 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in Bowling Green, KY

Job	Median pay
Registered Nurses	$79,120
Industrial Machinery Mechanics	$74,410
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers	$73,540
General and Operations Managers	$71,170
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	$61,520
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education	$61,260
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers	$61,250
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products	$59,120

All cooks, institution and cafeteria salaries · Take-home pay in Kentucky