How much does a cook make in Kansas City?
$29,810a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area. That is $14.33 an hour or $2,484 a month.
- Hourly
- $14.33
- Vs. national median
- -17%
- Rank among cities
- 156 of 237
- Jobs in the area
- 480
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $26,530Median: $29,810Highest 10%: $38,210
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26,530 | $12.75 | |
| 25th | $26,530 | $12.75 | |
| Median | $29,810 | $14.33 | |
| 75th | $34,320 | $16.50 | |
| 90th | $38,210 | $18.37 |
Other cities in Missouri
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| St. Louis, MO | $38,490 |
| Columbia, MO | $35,260 |
Related jobs in Kansas City
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $64,010 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $39,210 |
| Cook | $37,370 |
| Cook | $36,080 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $36,080 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $35,820 |
| Dishwasher | $34,800 |
| Food Server | $33,620 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,230 |
| Bartender | $30,300 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Kansas City?
The median hourly pay in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area is $14.33 ($29,810 a year).
Do cooks make more in Kansas City than the national average?
No: $29,810 against $35,880 nationally, 17% less.
How does Kansas City compare with the rest of Missouri?
The median in Missouri is $38,490, so Kansas City pays 23% less.
Where does Kansas City rank for cook pay?
156 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Kansas City?
The lowest-paid 10% make $26,530 or less a year; the top 10% make $38,210 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.