Cooks, Restaurant salary in Kansas
Cooks, Restaurant in Kansas earn a median of $35,130 a year ($16.89 an hour), based on BLS data for 11,620 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,540 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $37,390. Kansas ranks 42nd of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 8.1 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $34,900, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Kansas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,120 | $12.56 |
| 25th percentile | $29,690 | $14.27 |
| Median | $35,130 | $16.89 |
| 75th percentile | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,540 | $21.41 |
| Average (mean) | $34,900 | $16.78 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $2,927.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,463.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,351.15 |
| Weekly | $675.58 |
| Hourly | $16.89 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in cities in Kansas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $37,370 | 9,940 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $35,560 | 320 |
| Lawrence, KS | $35,140 | 690 |
| Wichita, KS | $34,510 | 2,810 |
| Topeka, KS | $34,450 | 770 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $33,930 | 700 |
| Manhattan, KS | $32,280 | 520 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
Related jobs in Kansas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,280 | $14.56 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $31,950 | $15.36 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,640 | $13.77 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,400 | $13.17 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,580 | $13.26 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,120 | $17.36 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,220 | $18.37 |
| 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 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,040 | $13.96 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $58,390 | $28.07 |
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 35-2014. 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, restaurant make in Kansas?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Kansas is $35,130 a year, or $16.89 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,540 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Kansas?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Kansas earn at least $44,540 a year. The top 25% earn $37,440 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Kansas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,120 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $29,690 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Kansas?
About 11,620 cooks, restaurant are employed in Kansas, not counting the self-employed.