Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Kansas City, MO-KS
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area earn a median of $64,010 a year ($30.77 an hour), based on BLS data for 890 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,930 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 1% lower than the Missouri statewide median of $64,480. There are 0.81 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.63). The average (mean) salary is $67,740, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Kansas City, MO-KS
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,650 | $19.06 |
| 25th percentile | $49,170 | $23.64 |
| Median | $64,010 | $30.77 |
| 75th percentile | $76,540 | $36.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,930 | $45.16 |
| Average (mean) | $67,740 | $32.57 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,334.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,667.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,461.92 |
| Weekly | $1,230.96 |
| Hourly | $30.77 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $64,010 salary, see how much house you can afford in Missouri at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Springfield, MO | $67,460 | 80 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $64,480 | 1,030 |
| Topeka, KS | $55,030 | 80 |
| Columbia, MO | $52,870 | 60 |
| Wichita, KS | $49,440 | 170 |
| Manhattan, KS | $48,640 | 40 |
| Lawrence, KS | $44,700 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in Kansas City, MO-KS
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,210 | $18.85 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,560 | $14.21 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,170 | $14.50 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,370 | $17.97 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,230 | $15.49 |
| Bartender | $30,300 | $14.57 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,280 | $14.08 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,200 | $14.52 |
| Dishwasher | $34,800 | $16.73 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,620 | $16.16 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,810 | $14.33 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,820 | $17.22 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Kansas City, MO-KS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Kansas City, MO-KS?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area is $64,010 a year, or $30.77 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,930 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Kansas City, MO-KS?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area earn at least $93,930 a year. The top 25% earn $76,540 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Kansas City, MO-KS?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,650 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $49,170 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Kansas City, MO-KS?
About 890 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area, not counting the self-employed.