Topeka, KS · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Topeka, KS

In the Topeka, KS metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $34,600 ($16.63/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $25,800/year and the 90th was $43,900/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Kansas tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $28,846 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 88.8 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$34,600$16.63 per hour · $2,883 monthly
10th Percentile$25,800$12.40/hr base
25th Percentile$29,300$14.09/hr base
75th Percentile$36,900$17.74/hr base
90th Percentile$43,900$21.11/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

$34,600
$15,000$70,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$34,600
Net 83%
Fed 6%
KS 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$28,846After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,404Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,109Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16.6%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,972 / yr
Kansas state income tax$1,135 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,647 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Topeka, 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 Topeka, KS Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (KS)
10th Percentile$12.40/hr$2,150$25,800$22,178
25th Percentile$14.09/hr$2,442$29,300$24,863
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$16.63/hr$2,883$34,600$28,846
75th Percentile$17.74/hr$3,075$36,900$30,570
90th Percentile$21.11/hr$3,658$43,900$35,804

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Topeka, KS

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$34,600 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$69,888Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index88.811.2% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio49.5%of area median income

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Topeka, KS

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Topeka, KS?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Topeka, KS is $34,600, which equates to approximately $2,883 per month or $16.63 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Topeka, KS?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Topeka, KS is $16.63 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $12.40/hour and one in ten earned more than $21.11/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Topeka, KS?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Topeka, KS span from $25,800 at the 10th percentile to $29,300 at the 25th, $36,900 at the 75th, and $43,900 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Topeka, KS?

On a median gross salary of $34,600, an estimated $28,846 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,109 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Kansas in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,754 (an effective rate of 16.6%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Topeka, KS?

On the median annual salary of $34,600, gross monthly income is $2,883. After federal, FICA, and Kansas state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,404 per month (or $1,109 every two weeks).

Is $34,600 a good salary in Topeka, KS?

At $34,600, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 49.5% of the Topeka, KS median household income ($69,888). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 88.8, making regional consumer goods and services 11.2% cheaper than the U.S. average.