Kansas, known as the “Sunflower State,” is centrally located in the United States and plays a key role in the nation’s agricultural and transportation industries. With a population of approximately 2.9 million people, Kansas offers a lower cost of living compared to coastal metropolitan areas, making it an attractive place for workers seeking affordability and career stability.
This article aims to present a comprehensive overview of salaries within Kansas’s hospitality and restaurant industries, all while considering the state’s living costs and relevant government data.
When examining the average salary in Kansas, it is crucial to highlight the intricacies that define the hospitality and restaurant sectors.
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Data for Kansas
BLS data offers a reliable snapshot of average wages across a broad spectrum of occupations, including those central to the hospitality and restaurant industries. While these figures typically lag by a year or more, they serve as a valuable reference for understanding broader labor market trends.
Understanding BLS Categories
The BLS typically groups jobs under categories like “Food Preparation and Serving-Related Occupations” or “Accommodation and Food Services.”
Kansas’s hospitality sector, while not as large as that of major tourist hubs, includes a mix of locally owned establishments, national restaurant chains, and hotels catering to business travelers and interstate visitors.
Rural towns and cities like Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City each have distinct hospitality markets that affect salary expectations.
To avoid skewed perspectives, it’s useful to look for more localized data at the county or metropolitan division level, focusing on the Kansas City metro area and key urban centers such as Topeka and Wichita.
Moreover, the BLS makes distinctions between hourly and annual wages, which is particularly important for hospitality roles. Employees in lodging management or upscale restaurants might earn an annual salary, while entry-level kitchen staff, Servers, and Bartenders typically work hourly, often with tips supplementing their base pay.
Average Hourly Wages
According to recent BLS estimates for Kansas, workers in “Food Preparation and Serving-Related Occupations” generally earn a mean hourly wage between $11 and $14, not including tips for those in tipped positions.
For specialized roles—such as Chefs, Chef de Partie with niche training, or Sommeliers—this figure can climb, reflecting the higher skill requirements and the competitive drive to attract and retain talented individuals.
Positions such as Hotel Front-Desk Clerks or Concierge staff, often classified under “Accommodation and Food Services,” can see hourly wages start around $13 to $16.
Lodging managers, another category the BLS tracks, bring in annual salaries averaging between $50,000 and $60,000 in the Kansas region, with potential for performance-based bonuses.
Tipped Occupations
BLS data for tipped roles can be tricky to parse. In Kansas, the minimum cash wage for tipped workers is $2.13 per hour, but employers must ensure that the total (base pay plus tips) meets or exceeds $7.25 per hour (the current federal and state minimum).
In bustling areas like Kansas City or high-end restaurants in Overland Park, experienced Servers or Bartenders can see their combined hourly rate climb to $15–$20 or even $25 on peak nights, thanks to generous tipping from a high volume of patrons.
In contrast, establishments with slower traffic may struggle to ensure staff consistently earn an amount above the minimum wage after tips.
While employers are legally obligated to make up any shortfall, enforcement can vary, emphasizing the importance of workplace transparency and compliance with labor laws.
Salary Ranges by Common Hospitality Roles
Given Kansas’s mix of urban and rural hospitality markets, compensation structures can differ widely.
Below are some commonly observed ranges for key roles, combining insights from BLS data, local reports, and anecdotal evidence from industry professionals.
Servers and Bartenders
- Servers: Typically start with a tipped minimum wage of $2.13 per hour in Kansas. Total compensation fluctuates based on sales volume and tipping culture, often landing at $12 to $20 per hour effectively. Upscale or high-traffic locations can push these earnings even higher.
- Bartenders: Also rely heavily on tips. However, because they prepare drinks for all bar patrons (and sometimes for tables in the restaurant), their tip volume can be significant. The effective hourly rate might range from $15 to $25, with potential for more in busy or high-end venues.
Cooks and Kitchen Staff
- Line Cooks: Generally command $12 to $18 per hour, depending on experience and the complexity of the menu. Those with specialized skills (e.g., Sushi or Pastry Chefs) can justify higher wages.
- Sous Chefs: Often shift to a salaried model, with a range of $35,000 to $50,000 annually. Restaurants that emphasize avant-garde or highly specialized cuisine may pay a premium for creativity and strong leadership skills.
- Head Chefs: Can earn $45,000 to $75,000+ per year, particularly in acclaimed dining establishments or large hotels where they oversee kitchen operations and staff.
Restaurant Managers and Hotel Managers
- Front-of-House (FoH) Managers: Responsible for overseeing service, managing guest relations, and coordinating staff. Salaries can start at $40,000 and climb to $55,000 or more, factoring in each establishment’s clientele and volume.
- General Managers: May be tasked with budget oversight, marketing initiatives, and policy enforcement. These roles often offer $50,000 to $70,000 or higher, with performance bonuses sometimes included.
- Hotel General Managers: If operating large or luxury properties, GMs in Kansas can earn between $55,000 and $85,000, with the upper end available to those overseeing multiple restaurants, conference centers, and upscale guest services.
State and Local Wage Trends
Kansas’s minimum wage follows the federal standard of $7.25 per hour, meaning there are no city- or state-mandated wage increases beyond the national level. This is lower than in many states where local governments have implemented higher minimum wages to match cost-of-living increases.
Current and Future Outlook
The hospitality and restaurant industry in Kansas continues to grow, particularly in urban hubs like Wichita and Kansas City, where tourism and business travel contribute significantly to demand.
Competitive Environment
With more restaurants and hotels opening or expanding their operations, skilled Cooks, Bartenders, and managers can find strong employment prospects. Those with fine-dining or event coordination experience may have an edge in salary negotiations.
Career Development
Aspiring Chefs, Mixologists, and Hotel Managers can benefit from networking opportunities, specialized certifications, and mentorship programs to advance their careers. The growing culinary scene in Kansas, while smaller than in coastal states, still offers ample opportunities for growth.
Summary and Conclusion
Kansas’s hospitality and restaurant industry offers a range of career opportunities at varying salary levels, influenced by location, job role, and experience.
- Wide Salary Ranges: Entry-level roles such as Line Cooks and Servers typically start at $12–$14 per hour, whereas specialized Chefs, Hotel Managers, and high-volume Bartenders can earn significantly more when factoring in tips or bonuses.
- Cost of Living: Kansas remains more affordable than many other states, allowing workers to stretch their earnings further when it comes to housing, transportation, and daily expenses.
- Future Prospects: As Kansas continues to develop its tourism and hospitality industries, wages may gradually increase to attract skilled labor, particularly in high-demand areas like Kansas City and Wichita.
While Kansas may not have the high wages found in larger metropolitan markets, the combination of a lower cost of living and steady industry growth makes it a viable option for hospitality professionals looking to establish or advance their careers.
