Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Topeka
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,190 a year or less, while the top 10% make $85,300 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Topeka earn between $43,990 and $59,830.
- $41K10th
- $44K25th
- $55KMedian
- $60K75th
- $85K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,420 | $4,868 | $28.09 |
| Median | $55,030 | $4,586 | $26.46 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $43,990 | $3,666 | $21.15 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,830 | $4,986 | $28.76 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Topeka vs. Kansas and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Topeka earn 4% less than the Kansas average ($60,930) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | $58,420 | $55,030 | $41,190 | $85,300 | 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 Topeka
On the average salary of $58,420, a single filer in Topeka takes home about $46,660 a year, or $3,888 a month and $1,795 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Topeka a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Topeka area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.8), so the average $58,420 buys what about $65,773 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Topeka ($49,540). A typical home costs $217,683, or 3.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Kansas cities
Topeka ranks 1st of 4 Kansas metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Topeka: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Topeka?
$28.09 an hour on average, and $26.46 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Topeka?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,190 a year and the 25th percentile is $43,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Topeka?
About $46,660 a year ($3,888 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,420.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Topeka than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Topeka, KS (45820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.5%.
- 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 0.51, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.51).
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