Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Lawrence, KS

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Lawrence, KS

Median annual salary $34,460 -5.5% vs national
Median hourly $16.57
10th percentile $23,960
90th percentile $43,610
Employed locally 170
National median $36,450

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
in
Lawrence, KS
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $23,960
    25th
    $29,740
    50th (median)
    $34,460
    75th
    $37,070
    90th
    $43,610

    Lawrence economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $68,756 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 50% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 50% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $54,840
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,290
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $50,150
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,850
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    Washington $48,260

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Fairbanks-College, AK $47,410
    Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $43,360
    Grand Forks, ND-MN $38,520
    Jackson, MI $37,420
    Jacksonville, FL $36,630
    Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA $35,870

    Related occupations in Lawrence, KS

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,820
    Waiters and Waitresses $35,250
    Cooks, Restaurant $34,390
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,760
    Bartenders $29,130
    Food Preparation Workers $30,310

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make per hour in Lawrence?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Lawrence, KS is $16.57, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.84 or more per hour.

    Is Lawrence above or below average for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries?

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Lawrence, KS is 5.5% below the national median of $36,450. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Lawrence?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $23,960 per year in Lawrence, KS. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,740.