How much does a cook make in Lawrence?
$36,080a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Lawrence, KS metro area. That is $17.35 an hour or $3,007 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.35
- Vs. national median
- -4%
- Rank among cities
- 226 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 180
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $29,020Median: $36,080Highest 10%: $45,430
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,020 | $13.95 | |
| 25th | $30,930 | $14.87 | |
| Median | $36,080 | $17.35 | |
| 75th | $37,900 | $18.22 | |
| 90th | $45,430 | $21.84 |
Other cities in Kansas
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Kansas City, MO | $36,080 |
| Manhattan, KS | $34,100 |
| St. Joseph, MO | $34,070 |
| Topeka, KS | $33,200 |
| Wichita, KS | $31,850 |
| Joplin, MO | $31,070 |
Related jobs in Lawrence
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $44,700 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $38,440 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $37,230 |
| Cook | $35,140 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,350 |
| Bartender | $29,980 |
| Cook | $29,700 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $28,320 |
| Dishwasher | $27,590 |
| Host and Hostess | $27,040 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Lawrence?
The median hourly pay in the Lawrence, KS metro area is $17.35 ($36,080 a year).
Do cooks make more in Lawrence than the national average?
No: $36,080 against $37,450 nationally, 4% less.
How does Lawrence compare with the rest of Kansas?
The median in Kansas is $31,950, so Lawrence pays 13% more.
Where does Lawrence rank for cook pay?
226 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Lawrence?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,020 or less a year; the top 10% make $45,430 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.