Cooks, Fast Food salary in Kansas City, MO-KS
Cooks, Fast Food in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area earn a median of $30,170 a year ($14.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 13,850 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,800 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 1% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $29,890. There are 13 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $31,230, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Kansas City, MO-KS
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,180 | $14.03 |
| 25th percentile | $29,850 | $14.35 |
| Median | $30,170 | $14.50 |
| 75th percentile | $31,700 | $15.24 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $34,800 | $16.73 |
| Average (mean) | $31,230 | $15.01 |
Half of cooks, fast food 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 | $2,514.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,257.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,160.38 |
| Weekly | $580.19 |
| Hourly | $14.50 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $30,170 salary, see how much house you can afford in Missouri at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $30,860 | 17,700 |
| Lawrence, KS | $29,700 | 110 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $29,620 | 1,020 |
| Springfield, MO | $29,190 | 4,880 |
| Columbia, MO | $29,110 | 2,470 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $28,820 | 1,070 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $28,600 | 1,320 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $28,600 | 2,030 |
| Topeka, KS | $26,680 | 170 |
| Wichita, KS | $25,580 | 390 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in Kansas City, MO-KS
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,370 | $17.97 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,230 | $15.49 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,810 | $14.33 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,560 | $14.21 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,210 | $18.85 |
| Bartender | $30,300 | $14.57 |
| 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 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,010 | $30.77 |
| 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 35-2011. 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 cooks, fast food make in Kansas City, MO-KS?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area is $30,170 a year, or $14.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,800 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Kansas City, MO-KS?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area earn at least $34,800 a year. The top 25% earn $31,700 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Kansas City, MO-KS?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,180 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $29,850 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Kansas City, MO-KS?
About 13,850 cooks, fast food are employed in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area, not counting the self-employed.