How much does a cook make in Kansas City?
$30,170a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area. That is $14.50 an hour or $2,514 a month.
- Hourly
- $14.50
- Vs. national median
- -2%
- Rank among cities
- 122 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 13,850
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $29,180Median: $30,170Highest 10%: $34,800
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,180 | $14.03 | |
| 25th | $29,850 | $14.35 | |
| Median | $30,170 | $14.50 | |
| 75th | $31,700 | $15.24 | |
| 90th | $34,800 | $16.73 |
Other cities in Missouri
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| St. Louis, MO | $30,860 |
| St. Joseph, MO | $29,620 |
| Springfield, MO | $29,190 |
| Columbia, MO | $29,110 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO | $28,820 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $28,600 |
| Joplin, MO | $28,600 |
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 $14.50 ($30,170 a year).
Do cooks make more in Kansas City than the national average?
No: $30,170 against $30,890 nationally, 2% less.
How does Kansas City compare with the rest of Missouri?
The median in Missouri is $29,890, so Kansas City pays 1% more.
Where does Kansas City rank for cook pay?
122 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Kansas City?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,180 or less a year; the top 10% make $34,800 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.