Cooks, Restaurant salary in Topeka, KS
Cooks, Restaurant in the Topeka, KS metro area earn a median of $34,450 a year ($16.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 770 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $41,880 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 2% lower than the Kansas statewide median of $35,130. There are 6.6 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.73). The average (mean) salary is $33,810, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Topeka, KS
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,040 | $12.52 |
| 25th percentile | $30,050 | $14.45 |
| Median | $34,450 | $16.56 |
| 75th percentile | $35,990 | $17.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $41,880 | $20.13 |
| Average (mean) | $33,810 | $16.26 |
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 | $2,870.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,435.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,325 |
| Weekly | $662.50 |
| Hourly | $16.56 |
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 |
| Lawrence, KS | $35,140 | 690 |
| Wichita, KS | $34,510 | 2,810 |
| 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 Topeka, KS
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,300 | $14.57 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $33,200 | $15.96 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,680 | $12.83 |
| 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 35-2014. 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 Topeka, KS?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Topeka, KS metro area is $34,450 a year, or $16.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $41,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Topeka, KS?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Topeka, KS metro area earn at least $41,880 a year. The top 25% earn $35,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Topeka, KS?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,040 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $30,050 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Topeka, KS?
About 770 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Topeka, KS metro area, not counting the self-employed.