Cooks, Fast Food salary in Topeka, KS
Cooks, Fast Food in the Topeka, KS metro area earn a median of $26,680 a year ($12.83 an hour), based on BLS data for 170 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,100 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 7% lower than the Kansas statewide median of $28,640. There are 1.5 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.36). The average (mean) salary is $28,690, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Topeka, KS
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,750 | $10.94 |
| 25th percentile | $26,680 | $12.83 |
| Median | $26,680 | $12.83 |
| 75th percentile | $30,390 | $14.61 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,100 | $18.32 |
| Average (mean) | $28,690 | $13.79 |
Half of cooks, fast food 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 | $2,223.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,111.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,026.15 |
| Weekly | $513.08 |
| Hourly | $12.83 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $30,170 | 13,850 |
| Lawrence, KS | $29,700 | 110 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $29,620 | 1,020 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $28,600 | 2,030 |
| Wichita, KS | $25,580 | 390 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the Kansas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Topeka, KS
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,450 | $16.56 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,300 | $14.57 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $33,200 | $15.96 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,180 | $14.03 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,810 | $13.37 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,090 | $16.87 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,890 | $18.70 |
| Bartender | $27,860 | $13.40 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $22,290 | $10.72 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,570 | $12.77 |
| Dishwasher | $27,920 | $13.42 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $55,030 | $26.46 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $26,670 | $12.82 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Topeka, KS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2011. 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 cooks, fast food make in Topeka, KS?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Topeka, KS metro area is $26,680 a year, or $12.83 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Topeka, KS?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Topeka, KS metro area earn at least $38,100 a year. The top 25% earn $30,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Topeka, KS?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,750 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $26,680 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Topeka, KS?
About 170 cooks, fast food are employed in the Topeka, KS metro area, not counting the self-employed.