Food Preparation Workers pay range in Topeka
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,420 a year or less, while the top 10% make $42,210 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Topeka earn between $27,630 and $36,100.
- $23K10th
- $28K25th
- $30KMedian
- $36K75th
- $42K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $32,170 | $2,681 | $15.47 |
| Median | $30,300 | $2,525 | $14.57 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,630 | $2,302 | $13.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,100 | $3,008 | $17.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Topeka vs. Kansas and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Topeka earn about the same as the Kansas average ($31,460) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | $32,170 | $30,300 | $23,420 | $42,210 | 700 |
| Kansas | $31,460 | $30,280 | $22,880 | $39,220 | 7,680 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Topeka
On the average salary of $32,170, a single filer in Topeka takes home about $27,020 a year, or $2,252 a month and $1,039 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% 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 food preparation workers? 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 $32,170 buys what about $36,219 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Topeka ($49,540). A typical home costs $217,683, or 6.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers 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 food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Topeka: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Topeka?
$15.47 an hour on average, and $14.57 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Topeka?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,420 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,630, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Topeka?
About $27,020 a year ($2,252 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $32,170.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Topeka than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% less than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
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 35-2021; area Topeka, KS (45820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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 1.05, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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