Cooks, Restaurant salary in Lawrence, KS
Cooks, Restaurant in the Lawrence, KS metro area earn a median of $35,140 a year ($16.89 an hour), based on BLS data for 690 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,130 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is about the same as the Kansas statewide median of $35,130. There are 13 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $34,560, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Lawrence, KS
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,430 | $12.71 |
| 25th percentile | $30,610 | $14.72 |
| Median | $35,140 | $16.89 |
| 75th percentile | $36,990 | $17.79 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,130 | $20.26 |
| Average (mean) | $34,560 | $16.62 |
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 | $2,928.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,464.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,351.54 |
| Weekly | $675.77 |
| 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 other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $37,370 | 9,940 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $35,560 | 320 |
| 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 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Kansas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lawrence, KS
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,350 | $15.07 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,080 | $17.34 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,700 | $14.28 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,320 | $13.62 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $37,230 | $17.90 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| Bartender | $29,980 | $14.41 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,040 | $13.00 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $22,620 | $10.88 |
| Dishwasher | $27,590 | $13.26 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $26,550 | $12.77 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $44,700 | $21.49 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Lawrence, KS
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 Lawrence, KS?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Lawrence, KS metro area is $35,140 a year, or $16.89 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Lawrence, KS?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Lawrence, KS metro area earn at least $42,130 a year. The top 25% earn $36,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Lawrence, KS?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,430 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $30,610 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Lawrence, KS?
About 690 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Lawrence, KS metro area, not counting the self-employed.