Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Lawrence
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,430 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Lawrence earn between $30,930 and $37,900.
- $29K10th
- $31K25th
- $36KMedian
- $38K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,760 | $3,063 | $17.67 |
| Median | $36,080 | $3,007 | $17.35 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,930 | $2,578 | $14.87 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,900 | $3,158 | $18.22 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Lawrence vs. Kansas and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Lawrence earn 11% more than the Kansas average ($32,990) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence | $36,760 | $36,080 | $29,020 | $45,430 | 180 |
| Kansas | $32,990 | $31,950 | $25,440 | $42,000 | 7,570 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Lawrence
On the average salary of $36,760, a single filer in Lawrence takes home about $30,465 a year, or $2,539 a month and $1,172 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% 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 cooks, institution and cafeteria? 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 $36,760 buys what about $40,734 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Lawrence ($47,390). A typical home costs $340,687, or 9.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Kansas cities
Lawrence ranks 1st of 4 Kansas metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Lawrence: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Lawrence?
$17.68 an hour on average, and $17.34 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Lawrence?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,930, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Lawrence?
About $30,465 a year ($2,539 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,760.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Lawrence than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
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 35-2012; area Lawrence, KS (29940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- 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 1.23, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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