Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Topeka
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,050 a year or less, while the top 10% make $43,070 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Topeka earn between $29,320 and $37,320.
- $28K10th
- $29K25th
- $33KMedian
- $37K75th
- $43K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,940 | $2,828 | $16.32 |
| Median | $33,200 | $2,767 | $15.96 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,320 | $2,443 | $14.10 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,320 | $3,110 | $17.94 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Topeka vs. Kansas and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Topeka earn about the same as the Kansas average ($32,990) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | $33,940 | $33,200 | $28,050 | $43,070 | 480 |
| Kansas | $32,990 | $31,950 | $25,440 | $42,000 | 7,570 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Topeka
On the average salary of $33,940, a single filer in Topeka takes home about $28,350 a year, or $2,362 a month and $1,090 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Topeka a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Topeka area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.8), so the average $33,940 buys what about $38,212 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Topeka ($49,540). A typical home costs $217,683, or 6.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Kansas cities
Topeka ranks 2nd of 4 Kansas metro areas for this job; Lawrence pays the most ($36,760).
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Topeka: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Topeka?
$16.32 an hour on average, and $15.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Topeka?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,050 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,320, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Topeka?
About $28,350 a year ($2,362 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,940.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Topeka than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2012; area Topeka, KS (45820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.47, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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