Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Lawrence, KS
Cooks, Restaurant in the Lawrence, KS metro area earn a median $35,140 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,251 take-home, or $2,438 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Lawrence, KS. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,037
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,179
- Medicare (1.45%)$510
- Kansas income tax$1,164
- Take-home pay$29,251
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.20% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Lawrence, KS
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,430 | $12.71 | $22,665 | $1,889 |
| 25th percentile | $30,610 | $14.72 | $25,847 | $2,154 |
| Median (50th) | $35,140 | $16.89 | $29,251 | $2,438 |
| 75th percentile | $36,990 | $17.78 | $30,637 | $2,553 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,130 | $20.25 | $34,480 | $2,873 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kansas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,140 buys in Lawrence, KS
Prices in Lawrence, KS are 9.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 28% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $29,251 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,414 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Lawrence, KS has 1.5× the national concentration of cooks, restaurant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Lawrence, KS ranks #126 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
| 126 | Lawrence, KS | $35,140 | $29,251 | $32,414 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Kansas
- Wichita, KS — $34,510
- Topeka, KS — $34,450
- Manhattan, KS — $32,280
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Lawrence, KS?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Lawrence, KS metro area is $35,140 a year, or about $16.89 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,610 and $36,990.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Lawrence, KS?
On the median $35,140 salary, a single filer living in Kansas takes home about $29,251 a year ($2,438 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,164 in Kansas taxes in 2026.
Is Lawrence, KS a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 9.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,414 would in a typical U.S. city. Lawrence, KS ranks #126 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Lawrence, KS?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lawrence, KS is $1,006 a month ($1,182 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Lawrence, KS
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,440
- Waiter and Waitress — $37,230
- Bartender — $29,980
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,320