State comparison · 2025
Chefs and Head Cooks salary: District of Columbia vs Kentucky
Chefs and Head Cooks in District of Columbia earn a median of $76,420. In Kentucky, $48,070. After cost-of-living, the gap is 30.5% — not 59%.
Nominal pay gap
+59%
District of Columbia vs Kentucky
COL-adjusted gap
+30.5%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
District of Columbia
Chefs and Head Cooks
- Median
- $76,420
- p25
- $63,550
- p75
- $81,360
- p10
- $56,570
- p90
- $104,660
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 109.9
Kentucky
Chefs and Head Cooks
- Median
- $48,070
- p25
- $36,850
- p75
- $66,770
- p10
- $31,550
- p90
- $88,410
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 90.2
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.