Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Missouri
Chefs and Head Cooks in Missouri earn a median of $64,480 a year ($31.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,750 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,500 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $62,470. Missouri ranks 16th of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay. There are 0.59 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.46). The average (mean) salary is $66,640, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Missouri
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,650 | $19.06 |
| 25th percentile | $49,550 | $23.82 |
| Median | $64,480 | $31.00 |
| 75th percentile | $76,520 | $36.79 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $91,500 | $43.99 |
| Average (mean) | $66,640 | $32.04 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,373.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,686.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,480 |
| Weekly | $1,240 |
| Hourly | $31.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in cities in Missouri
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Springfield, MO | $67,460 | 80 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $64,480 | 1,030 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $64,010 | 890 |
| Columbia, MO | $52,870 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
Related jobs in Missouri
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,400 | $17.98 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,890 | $14.37 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,400 | $14.13 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $30,390 | $14.61 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,940 | $17.76 |
| Bartender | $30,090 | $14.47 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,510 | $15.15 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $34,900 | $16.78 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,850 | $15.31 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,130 | $14.00 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| Dishwasher | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Cooks, All Other | $43,990 | $21.15 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,490 | $18.50 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Missouri
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Missouri?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in Missouri is $64,480 a year, or $31.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,500 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Missouri?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in Missouri earn at least $91,500 a year. The top 25% earn $76,520 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Missouri?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,650 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $49,550 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Missouri?
About 1,750 chefs and head cooks are employed in Missouri, not counting the self-employed.