Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Wichita, KS

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

Median annual salary $30,740 -15.7% vs national
Median hourly $14.78
10th percentile $25,010
90th percentile $37,790
Employed locally 1,270
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Wichita, KS stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
in
Wichita, KS
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $25,010
    25th
    $27,960
    50th (median)
    $30,740
    75th
    $35,230
    90th
    $37,790

    Wichita economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $68,930 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 45% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 55% 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 Wichita, KS

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,090
    Waiters and Waitresses $34,800
    Cooks, Restaurant $31,350
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $38,400
    Bartenders $29,000
    Food Preparation Workers $28,960

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Wichita, KS is $14.78, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $18.76 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Wichita, KS is 15.7% 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 Wichita?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $25,010 per year in Wichita, KS. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $27,960.