SOC 35-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Fast Food — Kansas
Kansas · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Kansas is $28,640 per year, close to the national median of $30,890 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Kansas is $28,640 per year, close to the national median of $30,890 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $24,520 and $34,170. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $22,480 and the ninetieth at $38,680.
Employment stands at 1,610, or 1.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Kansas ranks number 36th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Lawrence records the highest median at $29,700. Of the 669 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 653rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,480 | −27.2% |
| 25th | $24,520 | −20.6% |
| Median (50th) | $28,640 | −7.3% |
| 75th | $34,170 | +10.6% |
| 90th | $38,680 | +25.2% |
| Mean | $29,460 | −4.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Kansas
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Kansas run 9.9% below the national average, so the median of $28,640 goes as far as $31,787 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 2.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$28,640as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$31,787US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $28,640 a year, 7.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $22,480 to $38,680 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,610 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 36th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Lawrence, at $29,700.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Kansas?
The median annual wage is $28,640, or $13.77 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $30,890, so pay in Kansas is 7.3% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Kansas earns more than $38,680 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $22,480 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Lawrence, at $29,700 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,610 jobs in this occupation in Kansas. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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