Average Salary in Kansas: 3 Key Takeaways
- Entry-level roles like LIne Cooks and Servers start at $12–$14/hour, while top earners can make up to $85,000+ annually.
- Servers and Bartenders, starting at $2.13/hour base pay, often earn between $12 and $25/hour with tips.
- With a low cost of living, Kansas hospitality workers can stretch their wages further on housing, transportation, and daily expenses.
Average Salary in Kansas varies widely across the hospitality industry, shaped by role, location, and tipping potential.
From entry-level kitchen staff earning $12 an hour to Hotel Managers making over $85,000 annually, Kansas offers strong career potential.
Kansas Hospitality Wages: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Insights
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.
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.
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 typically work hourly.
Average Hourly Wages
According to recent BLS estimates, food service workers in Kansas earn an average hourly wage of $11 to $14, excluding tips.
For specialized roles 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 meets or exceeds $7.25 per hour.
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.
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.
Hospitality Job Salaries in Kansas: Role-by-Role Breakdown
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: In Kansas, tipped workers typically start at a minimum wage of $2.13 per hour, with total earnings averaging between $12 and $20 per hour.
- Bartenders: Bartenders also rely heavily on tips, often earning $15 to $25 per hour—or more in busy or upscale venues.
Cooks and Kitchen Staff
- Line Cooks: Generally command $12 to $18 per hour, depending on experience and the complexity of the menu.
- Sous Chefs: Often shift to a salaried model, with a range of $35,000 to $50,000 annually.
- Head Chefs: Can earn $45,000 to $75,000+ per year, particularly in acclaimed dining establishments.
Restaurant Managers and Hotel Managers
- Front-of-House (FoH) Managers: Salaries can start at $40,000 and climb to $55,000 or more.
- General Managers: 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.
Kansas Minimum Wage and Local Pay Trends
Kansas’s minimum wage follows the federal standard of $7.25 per hour, meaning there are no 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.
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.
Kansas Hospitality Industry Outlook and Salary Summary
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 start at $12–$14/hour, while skilled chefs, managers, and busy bartenders can earn significantly more with tips or bonuses.
- Cost of Living: Kansas is more affordable than many states, helping workers stretch their earnings on housing, transportation, and daily costs.
- Future Prospects: As Kansas grows its tourism and hospitality sectors, wages may rise to attract skilled workers.
While Kansas may lack the high wages of larger metros, its low cost of living and steady industry growth make it a strong option for hospitality professionals.
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