Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Lawrence, KS

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

Median annual salary $34,390 -6.6% vs national
Median hourly $16.53
10th percentile $22,500
90th percentile $40,860
Employed locally 640
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Lawrence, KS
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $22,500
    25th
    $28,660
    50th (median)
    $34,390
    75th
    $36,000
    90th
    $40,860

    Lawrence economic context

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

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $39,300
    Fairbanks-College, AK $37,350
    Kansas City, MO-KS $36,970
    Grand Forks, ND-MN $36,020
    Jackson, MI $35,450
    Jacksonville, FL $35,240

    Related occupations in Lawrence, KS

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$27,820
    Waiters and Waitresses$35,250
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$37,760
    Bartenders$29,130
    Food Preparation Workers$30,310
    Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$24,380

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Lawrence?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Lawrence, KS is $16.53, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.26 or more per hour.

    Is Lawrence above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Lawrence, KS is 6.6% below the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Restaurant in Lawrence?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $22,500 per year in Lawrence, KS. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $28,660.