Cooks, Short Order salary in Kansas City, MO-KS
Cooks, Short Order in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area earn a median of $29,810 a year ($14.33 an hour), based on BLS data for 480 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,210 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 23% lower than the Missouri statewide median of $38,490. There are 0.44 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.49). The average (mean) salary is $30,890, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Kansas City, MO-KS
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,530 | $12.76 |
| 25th percentile | $26,530 | $12.76 |
| Median | $29,810 | $14.33 |
| 75th percentile | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,210 | $18.37 |
| Average (mean) | $30,890 | $14.85 |
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 | $2,484.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,242.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,146.54 |
| Weekly | $573.27 |
| Hourly | $14.33 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $29,810 salary, see how much house you can afford in Missouri at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Short Order salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $38,490 | 910 |
| Columbia, MO | $35,260 | n/a |
| 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 |
See Cooks, Short Order pay in every state or the Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in Kansas City, MO-KS
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,170 | $14.50 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,370 | $17.97 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,230 | $15.49 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,560 | $14.21 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,210 | $18.85 |
| Bartender | $30,300 | $14.57 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,280 | $14.08 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,200 | $14.52 |
| Dishwasher | $34,800 | $16.73 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,620 | $16.16 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,010 | $30.77 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,820 | $17.22 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Kansas City, MO-KS
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 City, MO-KS?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area is $29,810 a year, or $14.33 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Kansas City, MO-KS?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area earn at least $38,210 a year. The top 25% earn $34,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Kansas City, MO-KS?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,530 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $26,530 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Kansas City, MO-KS?
About 480 cooks, short order are employed in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area, not counting the self-employed.