Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Kansas City, MO-KS

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Kansas City, MO-KS

Median annual salary $61,220 +0.4% vs national
Median hourly $29.43
10th percentile $38,340
90th percentile $90,960
Employed locally 850
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Kansas City, MO-KS stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Chefs and Head Cooks
in
Kansas City, MO-KS
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $38,340
    25th
    $44,520
    50th (median)
    $61,220
    75th
    $79,370
    90th
    $90,960

    Kansas City economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $81,927 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 75% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 25% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $71,600
    Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $69,630
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $69,610
    Mobile, AL $66,440
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $65,450

    Related occupations in Kansas City, MO-KS

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $29,380
    Waiters and Waitresses $29,210
    Cooks, Fast Food $29,920
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,970
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $38,810
    Food Preparation Workers $30,920

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Kansas City?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Kansas City, MO-KS is $29.43, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $45.16 or more per hour.

    Is Kansas City above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Kansas City, MO-KS is 0.4% above the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Kansas City?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $38,340 per year in Kansas City, MO-KS. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $44,520.