Cooks, Short Order salary in Topeka, KS
Cooks, Short Order in the Topeka, KS metro area earn a median of $29,180 a year ($14.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,890 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 6% higher than the Kansas statewide median of $27,400. There are 0.50 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.56). The average (mean) salary is $41,640, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Topeka, KS
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,910 | $11.97 |
| 25th percentile | $27,860 | $13.39 |
| Median | $29,180 | $14.03 |
| 75th percentile | $65,890 | $31.68 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $65,890 | $31.68 |
| Average (mean) | $41,640 | $20.02 |
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 | $2,431.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,215.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,122.31 |
| Weekly | $561.15 |
| Hourly | $14.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Short Order salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $29,810 | 480 |
| 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 Kansas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Topeka, KS
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,450 | $16.56 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,300 | $14.57 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $33,200 | $15.96 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,680 | $12.83 |
| 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 35-2015. 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 Topeka, KS?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Topeka, KS metro area is $29,180 a year, or $14.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,890 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Topeka, KS?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Topeka, KS metro area earn at least $65,890 a year. The top 25% earn $65,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Topeka, KS?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,910 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $27,860 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Topeka, KS?
About 60 cooks, short order are employed in the Topeka, KS metro area, not counting the self-employed.