Kansas City, MO-KS · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Kansas City, MO-KS

In the Kansas City, MO-KS metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $36,100 ($17.36/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $26,800/year and the 90th was $45,800/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Kansas tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $29,972 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 92.5 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$36,100$17.36 per hour · $3,008 monthly
10th Percentile$26,800$12.88/hr base
25th Percentile$30,500$14.66/hr base
75th Percentile$38,500$18.51/hr base
90th Percentile$45,800$22.02/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$36,100
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$36,100
Net 83%
Fed 6%
KS 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$29,972After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,498Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,153Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate17%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,152 / yr
Kansas state income tax$1,215 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,762 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Kansas City, MO-KS

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Cooks, Restaurant in the Kansas City, MO-KS Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (KS)
10th Percentile$12.88/hr$2,233$26,800$22,950
25th Percentile$14.66/hr$2,542$30,500$25,765
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$17.36/hr$3,008$36,100$29,972
75th Percentile$18.51/hr$3,208$38,500$31,766
90th Percentile$22.02/hr$3,817$45,800$37,224

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Kansas City, MO-KS

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$36,100 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$83,460Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index92.57.5% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio43.3%of area median income

Compare restaurant cooks salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Kansas:

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Kansas City, MO-KS

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Kansas City, MO-KS?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Kansas City, MO-KS is $36,100, which equates to approximately $3,008 per month or $17.36 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Kansas City, MO-KS?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Kansas City, MO-KS is $17.36 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $12.88/hour and one in ten earned more than $22.02/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Kansas City, MO-KS?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Kansas City, MO-KS span from $26,800 at the 10th percentile to $30,500 at the 25th, $38,500 at the 75th, and $45,800 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Kansas City, MO-KS?

On a median gross salary of $36,100, an estimated $29,972 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,153 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Kansas in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $6,128 (an effective rate of 17%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Kansas City, MO-KS?

On the median annual salary of $36,100, gross monthly income is $3,008. After federal, FICA, and Kansas state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,498 per month (or $1,153 every two weeks).

Is $36,100 a good salary in Kansas City, MO-KS?

At $36,100, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 43.3% of the Kansas City, MO-KS median household income ($83,460). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 92.5, making regional consumer goods and services 7.5% cheaper than the U.S. average.