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Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Topeka, KS

BLS Official DataUpdated 2025-05-31
Median Annual

$34,450

Mean: $33,810

~$26,871 est. take-home

Hourly Rate

$16.56

Based on 2,080 hrs/yr

Cost of Living

100

100 = national avg

Cooks, Restaurant salary in Topeka, KS — median $34,450/year, range $30,050-$35,990

Salary Distribution

Where the median falls between the 25th and 75th percentile.

25th %

$30,050

Median

$34,450

75th %

$35,990

Median is in the 74th percentile of the typical range

Cooks, Restaurant in other KS cities

Compare the same occupation across cities in KS.

About Cooks, Restaurant salaries in Topeka, KS

Cooks, Restaurant in Topeka, KS earn a median of $34,450 per year, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. The mean salary is $33,810, which tends to skew higher because a small number of high earners pull the average up.

Most cooks, restaurant in this area earn between $30,050 and $35,990. Where you land depends on experience, employer type, and whether you have in-demand specializations.

That works out to roughly $16.56 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year. Actual hourly pay may differ for part-time or contract roles.

Career Outlook

5% growthAs fast as average (BLS 2024–2034)

This occupation is tracking close to the national average for job growth. Openings come from a mix of new positions and people retiring or changing careers, with regional variation depending on local industry mix.

Worth knowing: Staying current with industry certifications and picking up adjacent skills (data literacy, project management, or automation tools) is the most reliable way to earn above median in this field.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a cooks, restaurant in Topeka?

The median — where half earn more and half earn less — is $34,450. The average (mean) is $33,810, which is higher because top earners pull it up.

How much does a cooks, restaurant make per hour in Topeka?

About $16.56/hour, based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. Part-time or overtime hours will change the actual rate.

What is the salary range for cooks, restaurant in Topeka?

The middle 50% earn between $30,050 and $35,990. Below $30,050 is typically entry-level; above $35,990 usually means significant experience or specialized skills.

Salary Conversion Table

How does $34,450 per year break down across different time periods?

PeriodGrossEst. Take-Home
Yearly$34,450$26,871
Monthly$2,871$2,239
Biweekly$1,325$1,034
Weekly$663$517
Hourly (40h/wk)$16.56$12.92
Hourly (35h/wk)$18.93$14.76
Hourly (30h/wk)$22.08$17.23
Daily (8h)$133$103

Take-home estimates use an effective tax rate of 22%. Actual amounts vary by filing status, deductions, and state tax.

Cooks, Restaurant: Highest-Paying Cities in the U.S.

Top 10 cities nationwide for cooks, restaurant, based on BLS median salary data.

Related Occupations in Topeka

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