Cooks, Short Order salary in Kansas
Cooks, Short Order in Kansas earn a median of $27,400 a year ($13.17 an hour), based on BLS data for 640 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,570 for the top 10%. That is 24% lower than the national median of $35,880. Kansas ranks 43rd of 49 states for cooks, short order pay. There are 0.44 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.50). The average (mean) salary is $29,600, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Kansas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,110 | $11.59 |
| 25th percentile | $26,530 | $12.76 |
| Median | $27,400 | $13.17 |
| 75th percentile | $28,250 | $13.58 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,570 | $17.58 |
| Average (mean) | $29,600 | $14.23 |
Half of cooks, short order 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 | $2,283.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,141.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,053.85 |
| Weekly | $526.92 |
| Hourly | $13.17 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Short Order salary in cities in Kansas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $29,810 | 480 |
| Topeka, KS | $29,180 | 60 |
| Wichita, KS | $28,250 | 170 |
| Manhattan, KS | $27,820 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
Related jobs in Kansas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,130 | $16.89 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,280 | $14.56 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $31,950 | $15.36 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,640 | $13.77 |
| 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 35-2015. 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, short order make in Kansas?
The median salary for cooks, short order in Kansas is $27,400 a year, or $13.17 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,570 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Kansas?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in Kansas earn at least $36,570 a year. The top 25% earn $28,250 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Kansas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,110 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $26,530 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Kansas?
About 640 cooks, short order are employed in Kansas, not counting the self-employed.