Cooks, Short Order salary in Wichita, KS
Cooks, Short Order in the Wichita, KS metro area earn a median of $28,250 a year ($13.58 an hour), based on BLS data for 170 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,880 for the top 10%. That is 21% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 3% higher than the Kansas statewide median of $27,400. There are 0.54 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $28,550, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Wichita, KS
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,110 | $11.59 |
| 25th percentile | $24,110 | $11.59 |
| Median | $28,250 | $13.58 |
| 75th percentile | $28,250 | $13.58 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $34,880 | $16.77 |
| Average (mean) | $28,550 | $13.73 |
Half of cooks, short order 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 | $2,354.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,177.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,086.54 |
| Weekly | $543.27 |
| Hourly | $13.58 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $28,250 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, Short Order salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $29,810 | 480 |
| Topeka, KS | $29,180 | 60 |
| Manhattan, KS | $27,820 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
See Cooks, Short Order 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, Fast Food | $25,580 | $12.30 |
| 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 35-2015. 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, short order make in Wichita, KS?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Wichita, KS metro area is $28,250 a year, or $13.58 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Wichita, KS?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Wichita, KS metro area earn at least $34,880 a year. The top 25% earn $28,250 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Wichita, KS?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,110 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $24,110 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Wichita, KS?
About 170 cooks, short order are employed in the Wichita, KS metro area, not counting the self-employed.