Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $36,200 a year ($17.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,410 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,020 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $37,450. Pay here is 4% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $34,900. There are 4.0 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $37,000, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,690 | $14.28 |
| 25th percentile | $31,780 | $15.28 |
| Median | $36,200 | $17.40 |
| 75th percentile | $39,210 | $18.85 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,020 | $21.64 |
| Average (mean) | $37,000 | $17.79 |
Half of cooks, institution and cafeteria 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 | $3,016.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,508.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,392.31 |
| Weekly | $696.15 |
| Hourly | $17.40 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $38,330 | 550 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $38,290 | 14,010 |
| Bloomington, IL | $37,950 | 520 |
| Decatur, IL | $36,750 | 170 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $36,080 | 4,470 |
| Peoria, IL | $35,980 | 790 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $35,740 | 840 |
| Springfield, IL | $35,600 | 460 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $35,310 | 440 |
| Kankakee, IL | $35,200 | 230 |
| Rockford, IL | $34,580 | 690 |
| Springfield, MO | $34,450 | 940 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $34,070 | 210 |
| Columbia, MO | $33,900 | 550 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $33,880 | 200 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $31,840 | 340 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $31,070 | 350 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 |
| Alaska | $48,580 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 |
| California | $46,390 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,880 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 |
See Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in every state or the Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,860 | $14.84 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,400 | $15.58 |
| 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 35-2012. 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, institution and cafeteria make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $36,200 a year, or $17.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,020 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $45,020 a year. The top 25% earn $39,210 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,690 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $31,780 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About 5,410 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.