Cooks, Fast Food salary in Jefferson City, MO
Cooks, Fast Food in the Jefferson City, MO metro area earn a median of $28,600 a year ($13.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,320 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $31,670 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 4% lower than the Missouri statewide median of $29,890. There are 16 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 4.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $29,750, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Jefferson City, MO
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| 25th percentile | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Median | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| 75th percentile | $29,170 | $14.02 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $31,670 | $15.23 |
| Average (mean) | $29,750 | $14.31 |
Half of cooks, fast food 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 | $2,383.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,191.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,100 |
| Weekly | $550 |
| Hourly | $13.75 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $30,860 | 17,700 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $30,170 | 13,850 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $29,620 | 1,020 |
| Springfield, MO | $29,190 | 4,880 |
| Columbia, MO | $29,110 | 2,470 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $28,820 | 1,070 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $28,600 | 2,030 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in Jefferson City, MO
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,670 | $16.67 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,200 | $14.04 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,280 | $14.56 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,580 | $14.22 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,000 | $17.31 |
| Bartender | $28,630 | $13.76 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,950 | $13.92 |
| Dishwasher | $30,860 | $14.84 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,210 | $14.53 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,710 | $17.17 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Jefferson City, MO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2011. 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 cooks, fast food make in Jefferson City, MO?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Jefferson City, MO metro area is $28,600 a year, or $13.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $31,670 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Jefferson City, MO?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Jefferson City, MO metro area earn at least $31,670 a year. The top 25% earn $29,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Jefferson City, MO?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,600 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $28,600 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Jefferson City, MO?
About 1,320 cooks, fast food are employed in the Jefferson City, MO metro area, not counting the self-employed.