Food Jobs & Pay in Kentucky
About 191,950 people in Kentucky work in food-related jobs. Median pay by occupation, with the national median in the last column.
Restaurants & service
| Job | Workers | Median pay | Typical range (10th–90th) | US median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 41,860 | $27,130 | $21,590 – $34,420 | $31,200 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 27,150 | $29,660 | $16,520 – $62,030 | $35,230 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | 21,750 | $23,500 | $21,220 – $30,000 | $30,890 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 18,010 | $35,810 | $28,190 – $58,980 | $44,080 |
| Food Preparation Workers | 15,390 | $26,850 | $20,900 – $37,830 | $35,320 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | 13,510 | $34,640 | $24,750 – $43,750 | $37,390 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | 11,540 | $31,550 | $25,580 – $45,720 | $37,450 |
| Bartenders | 6,870 | $28,780 | $16,110 – $63,140 | $34,340 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | 5,120 | $27,100 | $19,150 – $35,300 | $31,200 |
| Dishwashers | 4,890 | $29,060 | $21,330 – $36,240 | $34,810 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | 3,660 | $32,200 | $25,790 – $42,060 | $35,360 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | 3,350 | $26,330 | $15,870 – $37,330 | $33,980 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | 1,790 | $48,070 | $31,550 – $88,410 | $62,470 |
| Cooks, Short Order | 650 | $31,840 | $22,860 – $44,880 | $35,880 |
Food processing
| Job | Workers | Median pay | Typical range (10th–90th) | US median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Batchmakers | 4,570 | $46,900 | $31,690 – $61,340 | $42,290 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | 1,670 | $35,430 | $22,890 – $47,690 | $40,140 |
| Bakers | 1,630 | $33,890 | $24,440 – $47,810 | $37,160 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | 1,450 | $39,150 | $36,860 – $45,590 | $38,300 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | 690 | $37,450 | $37,130 – $44,610 | $39,680 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | 340 | $48,540 | $27,690 – $64,470 | $44,810 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | 320 | $38,330 | $36,600 – $42,400 | $40,130 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | 300 | $41,800 | $36,360 – $52,990 | $41,590 |
Farm & field
| Job | Workers | Median pay | Typical range (10th–90th) | US median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals | 700 | $38,030 | $24,820 – $54,760 | $36,670 |
| Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | 510 | $33,050 | $26,490 – $49,240 | $35,660 |
| Agricultural Inspectors | 270 | $46,640 | $36,480 – $67,200 | $49,940 |
| Agricultural Equipment Operators | 190 | $42,000 | $36,940 – $84,880 | $41,730 |
| Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products | 160 | $37,300 | $28,490 – $37,400 | $35,730 |
| Agricultural Workers, All Other | 30 | $39,970 | $39,970 – $85,600 | $39,850 |
Science & nutrition
| Job | Workers | Median pay | Typical range (10th–90th) | US median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | 1,040 | $69,520 | $31,820 – $89,710 | $76,400 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | 170 | $98,710 | $47,480 – $137,650 | $88,720 |
| Food Science Technicians | 160 | $64,770 | $42,170 – $84,410 | $52,130 |
Management
| Job | Workers | Median pay | Typical range (10th–90th) | US median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Service Managers | 1,680 | $70,410 | $41,070 – $102,780 | $69,390 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | 420 | $61,190 | $43,890 – $81,280 | $60,220 |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | 110 | $74,640 | $58,350 – $129,460 | $89,900 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, most recent annual estimate. Some occupations are suppressed in smaller states and are omitted. Median pay is the middle of the wage distribution; employment counts exclude the self-employed. Labour-market data, not job listings.