Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Kansas

Cooks, restaurant in Kansas earn the most in Lawrence (average $34,560 a year) and the least in Manhattan ($33,040), across the 4 Kansas metro areas we cover. Statewide, BLS puts the cooks, restaurant average at $34,900 and the median at $35,130 for 11,620 workers. The U.S. average for this job is $38,730.

Cooks, Restaurant average salary by city in Kansas

Lawrence$34,560
Wichita$34,370
Topeka$33,810
Manhattan$33,040

Pay, take-home pay and cost of living

City	Average	Median	25th pct.	Take-home*	Cost of living
Lawrence	$34,560	$35,140	$30,610	$28,816	90
Wichita	$34,370	$34,510	$29,910	$28,673	89
Topeka	$33,810	$34,450	$30,050	$28,252	89
Manhattan	$33,040	$32,280	$29,470	$27,673	90

*Average salary after federal and state taxes for a single filer. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.

Cooks, Restaurant salary in other states

Cooks, Restaurant salary by city and state

More about pay in Kansas

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 35-2014.
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.

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