Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Topeka, KS

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

Median annual salary $30,960 -15.9% vs national
Median hourly $14.88
10th percentile $23,240
90th percentile $37,920
Employed locally 820
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Topeka, KS
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $23,240
    25th
    $27,640
    50th (median)
    $30,960
    75th
    $35,710
    90th
    $37,920

    Topeka economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $68,160 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 45% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 55% 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 Topeka, KS

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,300
    Waiters and Waitresses $31,580
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,740
    Food Preparation Workers $29,480
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $31,830
    Bartenders $26,960

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Topeka, KS is $14.88, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.13 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Topeka, KS is 15.9% 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 Topeka?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $23,240 per year in Topeka, KS. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $27,640.