Food Preparation Worker Salary in Topeka, KS
Food Preparation Workers in the Topeka, KS metro area earn a median $30,300 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,614 take-home, or $2,135 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Topeka, KS. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,456
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,879
- Medicare (1.45%)$439
- Kansas income tax$912
- Take-home pay$25,614
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.20% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Topeka, KS
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,420 | $11.26 | $20,342 | $1,695 |
| 25th percentile | $27,630 | $13.28 | $23,590 | $1,966 |
| Median (50th) | $30,300 | $14.57 | $25,614 | $2,135 |
| 75th percentile | $36,100 | $17.36 | $29,972 | $2,498 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,210 | $20.29 | $34,540 | $2,878 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kansas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,300 buys in Topeka, KS
Prices in Topeka, KS are 11.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 35% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $25,614 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,838 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Preparation Worker jobs are about as common in Topeka, KS as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.05).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Topeka, KS ranks #153 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 153 | Topeka, KS | $30,300 | $25,614 | $28,838 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Kansas
- Wichita, KS — $29,940
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Topeka, KS?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Topeka, KS metro area is $30,300 a year, or about $14.57 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,630 and $36,100.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Topeka, KS?
On the median $30,300 salary, a single filer living in Kansas takes home about $25,614 a year ($2,135 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $912 in Kansas taxes in 2026.
Is Topeka, KS a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 11.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,838 would in a typical U.S. city. Topeka, KS ranks #153 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Topeka, KS?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Topeka, KS is $820 a month ($1,057 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Topeka, KS
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,890
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,090
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,450
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $33,200
- Bartender — $27,860
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,810