Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Lawrence
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,300 a year or less, while the top 10% make $70,940 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Lawrence earn between $36,540 and $50,800.
- $36K10th
- $37K25th
- $45KMedian
- $51K75th
- $71K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $48,330 | $4,028 | $23.24 |
| Median | $44,700 | $3,725 | $21.49 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,540 | $3,045 | $17.57 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $50,800 | $4,233 | $24.42 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Lawrence vs. Kansas and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Lawrence earn 21% less than the Kansas average ($60,930) and 28% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -28% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence | $48,330 | $44,700 | $36,300 | $70,940 | 80 |
| Kansas | $60,930 | $58,390 | $36,540 | $89,990 | 860 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Lawrence
On the average salary of $48,330, a single filer in Lawrence takes home about $39,116 a year, or $3,260 a month and $1,504 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Lawrence a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lawrence area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.2), so the average $48,330 buys what about $53,555 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Lawrence ($47,390). A typical home costs $340,687, or 7.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Kansas cities
Lawrence ranks 4th of 4 Kansas metro areas for this job; Topeka pays the most ($58,420).
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Lawrence: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Lawrence?
$23.24 an hour on average, and $21.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Lawrence?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,300 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,540, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Lawrence?
About $39,116 a year ($3,260 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $48,330.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Lawrence than elsewhere?
The average here is 28% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Lawrence, KS (29940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.14, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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