State comparison · 2025
Chefs and Head Cooks salary: Hawaii vs Kentucky
Chefs and Head Cooks in Hawaii earn a median of $77,360. In Kentucky, $48,070. After cost-of-living, the gap is 32% — not 60.9%.
Nominal pay gap
+60.9%
Hawaii vs Kentucky
COL-adjusted gap
+32%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
Hawaii
Chefs and Head Cooks
- Median
- $77,360
- p25
- $54,530
- p75
- $98,640
- p10
- $48,970
- p90
- $118,000
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.0
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.