Cooks, Restaurant salary in Columbia, MO
Cooks, Restaurant in the Columbia, MO metro area earn a median of $35,240 a year ($16.94 an hour), based on BLS data for 990 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,420 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 5% lower than the Missouri statewide median of $36,940. There are 9.2 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $35,660, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Columbia, MO
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,750 | $13.82 |
| 25th percentile | $29,910 | $14.38 |
| Median | $35,240 | $16.94 |
| 75th percentile | $37,060 | $17.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,420 | $21.36 |
| Average (mean) | $35,660 | $17.14 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $2,936.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,468.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,355.38 |
| Weekly | $677.69 |
| Hourly | $16.94 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $37,690 | 12,970 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $37,370 | 9,940 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $35,560 | 320 |
| Springfield, MO | $35,100 | 1,910 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $34,870 | 380 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $34,670 | 460 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $33,930 | 700 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, MO
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,110 | $13.99 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $33,900 | $16.30 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,710 | $14.28 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,260 | $16.95 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,250 | $14.06 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,390 | $14.13 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,060 | $18.30 |
| Bartender | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,860 | $14.35 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $32,800 | $15.77 |
| Dishwasher | $30,780 | $14.80 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $52,870 | $25.42 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Columbia, MO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2014. 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, restaurant make in Columbia, MO?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Columbia, MO metro area is $35,240 a year, or $16.94 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,420 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Columbia, MO?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Columbia, MO metro area earn at least $44,420 a year. The top 25% earn $37,060 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Columbia, MO?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,750 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $29,910 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Columbia, MO?
About 990 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Columbia, MO metro area, not counting the self-employed.