Cooks, Fast Food salary in Wichita, KS
Cooks, Fast Food in the Wichita, KS metro area earn a median of $25,580 a year ($12.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 390 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,250 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 11% lower than the Kansas statewide median of $28,640. There are 1.3 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.31). The average (mean) salary is $27,750, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Wichita, KS
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,100 | $11.11 |
| 25th percentile | $23,200 | $11.16 |
| Median | $25,580 | $12.30 |
| 75th percentile | $30,600 | $14.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,250 | $17.43 |
| Average (mean) | $27,750 | $13.34 |
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 | $2,131.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,065.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $983.85 |
| Weekly | $491.92 |
| Hourly | $12.30 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $25,580 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kansas 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $30,170 | 13,850 |
| Lawrence, KS | $29,700 | 110 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $29,620 | 1,020 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $28,600 | 2,030 |
| Topeka, KS | $26,680 | 170 |
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 Kansas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Wichita, KS
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,510 | $16.59 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,940 | $14.40 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $31,850 | $15.31 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $28,250 | $13.58 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,420 | $13.18 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $37,300 | $17.93 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,420 | $17.51 |
| Bartender | $28,540 | $13.72 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,550 | $13.25 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,870 | $13.40 |
| Dishwasher | $28,640 | $13.77 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $49,440 | $23.77 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $24,190 | $11.63 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Wichita, 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 Wichita, KS?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Wichita, KS metro area is $25,580 a year, or $12.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,250 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Wichita, KS?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Wichita, KS metro area earn at least $36,250 a year. The top 25% earn $30,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Wichita, KS?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,100 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $23,200 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Wichita, KS?
About 390 cooks, fast food are employed in the Wichita, KS metro area, not counting the self-employed.