Food Batchmakers Salary
Food Batchmakers in Topeka, KS make a median of $56,390 a year, or about $27.11 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.82), which stretches that salary to about $63,488 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,057/month, or 28.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $56K get you in Topeka?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Topeka’s Regional Price Parity (88.82). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About food batchmakers
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What this looks like in Topeka
Topeka sits well above the national pay line for food batchmakers, local pay runs about 33% higher than the U.S. median of $42K. Rent runs $1,057/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.82 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for food batchmakers in metros near Topeka, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $35K | $39K |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $46K | , |
| St. Louis | $52K | $55K |
| Kansas City | $43K | $46K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Topeka, KS
Entry-level food batchmakers (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $56K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $42K spread from bottom to top.
Food Batchmakers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Food Batchmakers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | $50K | +19% | 1,000 |
| Idaho | $50K | +17% | 1,700 |
| Wisconsin | $48K | +14% | 18,040 |
| Iowa | $48K | +14% | 4,160 |
| Illinois | $48K | +14% | 12,320 |
| Kentucky | $47K | +11% | 4,570 |
| Georgia | $46K | +10% | 4,290 |
| Missouri | $46K | +8% | 2,280 |
| Colorado | $45K | +6% | 3,880 |
| Ohio | $45K | +5% | 7,040 |
| Minnesota | $43K | +2% | 7,660 |
| Kansas | $43K | +1% | 3,230 |
| Washington | $43K | +1% | 5,700 |
| Tennessee | $43K | +1% | 2,920 |
| Maine | $42K | -0% | 610 |
| California | $42K | -1% | 12,560 |
| Utah | $41K | -2% | 3,250 |
| Nebraska | $41K | -3% | 1,270 |
| Nevada | $41K | -3% | 880 |
| Virginia | $41K | -3% | 2,870 |
| North Dakota | $41K | -3% | 250 |
| Arizona | $41K | -4% | 2,300 |
| Maryland | $40K | -5% | 1,390 |
| Michigan | $40K | -5% | 5,130 |
| Pennsylvania | $40K | -6% | 8,160 |
| Oregon | $40K | -6% | 3,420 |
| Indiana | $40K | -6% | 5,570 |
| Montana | $40K | -6% | 170 |
| Rhode Island | $39K | -7% | 310 |
| South Dakota | $39K | -7% | 660 |
| Connecticut | $39K | -8% | 1,460 |
| Alaska | $39K | -8% | 100 |
| Arkansas | $39K | -8% | 2,120 |
| New York | $38K | -9% | 8,460 |
| Wyoming | $38K | -9% | 100 |
| New Jersey | $38K | -10% | 3,640 |
| Texas | $38K | -11% | 13,250 |
| Hawaii | $37K | -11% | 360 |
| New Hampshire | $37K | -11% | 190 |
| New Mexico | $37K | -12% | 450 |
| Delaware | $37K | -12% | 380 |
| South Carolina | $37K | -12% | 700 |
| Alabama | $37K | -13% | 1,280 |
| Massachusetts | $37K | -13% | 5,100 |
| North Carolina | $37K | -13% | 3,450 |
| Mississippi | $37K | -14% | 660 |
| Oklahoma | $36K | -14% | 930 |
| Florida | $36K | -16% | 3,670 |
| West Virginia | $35K | -18% | 70 |
| Louisiana | $35K | -18% | 530 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track food batchmakers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Topeka numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food batchmaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Topeka?
Yes — at the median salary of $56K, rent takes 28.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,057/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for food batchmakers in Topeka?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food batchmakers typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,281/month. At HUD’s $1,057/month FMR, rent would take 46% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is food batchmaker a high-paying job in Topeka?
Local pay is 33% above the national median — $56K here vs. $42K nationally.
How does Topeka compare to the national average for food batchmakers?
Topeka pays $56K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s +33%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.82), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do food batchmakers make in Topeka, KS?
The median is $56,390 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,010, and experienced food batchmakers can clear $79,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $56K enough to live in Topeka?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,733/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,057/month, which eats 28.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a food batchmakers salary go in Topeka?
Topeka has a Regional Price Parity of 88.82 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median food batchmakers salary is worth about $63,488 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do food batchmakers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.