Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Kansas
Chefs and Head Cooks in Kansas earn a median of $58,390 a year ($28.07 an hour), based on BLS data for 860 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,990 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $62,470. Kansas ranks 37th of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay. There are 0.60 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.46). The average (mean) salary is $60,930, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Kansas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| 25th percentile | $43,990 | $21.15 |
| Median | $58,390 | $28.07 |
| 75th percentile | $74,990 | $36.06 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,990 | $43.26 |
| Average (mean) | $60,930 | $29.29 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,865.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,432.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,245.77 |
| Weekly | $1,122.88 |
| Hourly | $28.07 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in cities in Kansas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $64,010 | 890 |
| Topeka, KS | $55,030 | 80 |
| Wichita, KS | $49,440 | 170 |
| Manhattan, KS | $48,640 | 40 |
| Lawrence, KS | $44,700 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
Related jobs in Kansas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,220 | $18.37 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,580 | $13.26 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,120 | $17.36 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,130 | $16.89 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,280 | $14.56 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $31,950 | $15.36 |
| Bartender | $27,940 | $13.43 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,110 | $13.51 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,300 | $12.65 |
| Dishwasher | $28,060 | $13.49 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,640 | $13.77 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,040 | $13.96 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,400 | $13.17 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Kansas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Kansas?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in Kansas is $58,390 a year, or $28.07 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Kansas?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in Kansas earn at least $89,990 a year. The top 25% earn $74,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Kansas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,540 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $43,990 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Kansas?
About 860 chefs and head cooks are employed in Kansas, not counting the self-employed.