Cooks, Fast Food salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Cooks, Fast Food in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $30,860 a year ($14.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 17,700 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,450 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 3% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $29,890. There are 13 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $32,470, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,510 | $14.19 |
| 25th percentile | $30,250 | $14.54 |
| Median | $30,860 | $14.84 |
| 75th percentile | $33,800 | $16.25 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,450 | $17.52 |
| Average (mean) | $32,470 | $15.61 |
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 | $2,571.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,285.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,186.92 |
| Weekly | $593.46 |
| Hourly | $14.84 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $35,360 | 10,460 |
| Rockford, IL | $33,380 | 310 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $32,840 | 230 |
| Peoria, IL | $32,340 | 340 |
| Kankakee, IL | $31,900 | 80 |
| Bloomington, IL | $31,430 | 170 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $30,460 | 790 |
| 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 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $28,600 | 1,320 |
| 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 St. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,400 | $15.58 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,200 | $17.40 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,490 | $18.50 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,260 | $15.03 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,520 | $18.52 |
| Bartender | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,930 | $15.35 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dishwasher | $32,180 | $15.47 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,340 | $16.51 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,480 | $31.00 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $28,600 | $13.75 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in St. Louis, MO-IL
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 St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $30,860 a year, or $14.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,450 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $36,450 a year. The top 25% earn $33,800 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,510 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $30,250 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About 17,700 cooks, fast food are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.