SOC 35-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Waiters and Waitresses — Kansas
Kansas · 4 metro areas compared
The median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Kansas is $36,120 per year, close to the national median of $35,230 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Kansas is $36,120 per year, close to the national median of $35,230 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $17,370 at the tenth percentile to more than $62,890 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $26,830 to $47,690.
The area has 19,480 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 13.6 of every thousand jobs. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Kansas ranks 21st by median wage. Wichita leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $37,300. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 598th of 669 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $17,370 | −50.7% |
| 25th | $26,830 | −23.8% |
| Median (50th) | $36,120 | +2.5% |
| 75th | $47,690 | +35.4% |
| 90th | $62,890 | +78.5% |
| Mean | $39,170 | +11.2% |
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 $36,120 goes as far as $40,089 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 13.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$36,120as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$40,089US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,120 a year, 2.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $17,370 to $62,890 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 19,480 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 21st of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Wichita, at $37,300.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Kansas?
The median annual wage is $36,120, or $17.36 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 $35,230, so pay in Kansas is 2.5% higher. 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 $62,890 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $17,370 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 Wichita, at $37,300 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 19,480 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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