Food Preparation Workers Salary in Kansas
Food Preparation Workers in Kansas have a median of $30,280 a year, below the national $35,320 (−14%); the state ranks 41st of 51 states by median. That is 37% less than the median across all occupations in Kansas ($48,010). Among neighbouring states, Colorado, Nebraska and Missouri pay more (up to $38,960 in Colorado) and Oklahoma pays less (down to $28,540 in Oklahoma). Kansas employs 7,680 food preparation workers, 5.35 per 1,000 jobs, the 32nd largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.93 is close to the national share.
Kansas vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Kansas | Hourly | $11.00 | $13.32 | $14.56 | $16.97 | $18.86 | $15.13 | 7,680 | 5.35 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $22,880 | $27,700 | $30,280 | $35,290 | $39,220 | $31,460 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $12.41 | $14.40 | $16.98 | $18.53 | $21.80 | $16.96 | 893,600 | – | – |
| Annual | $25,810 | $29,950 | $35,320 | $38,550 | $45,340 | $35,290 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 41st of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 32nd of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.93
- Jobs per 1,000
- 5.35
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Kansas's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Kansas
7 metropolitan areas and 1 nonmetropolitan area touching Kansas publish a row for food preparation workers, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $15.49 | $32,230 | $28,180 | $43,240 | 5,080 | 4.63 | 0.81 |
| Lawrence, KS | $15.07 | $31,350 | $22,130 | $38,630 | 350 | 6.84 | 1.19 |
| Topeka, KS | $14.57 | $30,300 | $23,420 | $42,210 | 700 | 6.06 | 1.05 |
| Wichita, KS | $14.40 | $29,940 | $22,020 | $40,500 | 1,380 | 4.48 | 0.78 |
| Manhattan, KS | $14.07 | $29,270 | $21,360 | $36,520 | 290 | 5.51 | 0.96 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $13.95 | $29,010 | $28,600 | $42,600 | 410 | 4.72 | 0.82 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $13.92 | $28,960 | $28,600 | $41,730 | 440 | 8.13 | 1.42 |
| Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $13.77 | $28,640 | $22,430 | $35,920 | 2,340 | 6.26 | 1.09 |
Neighbouring states
See the national page for Food Preparation Workers (every state ranked) and the Kansas wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Kansas estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.