Cooks, Restaurant salary in Missouri
Cooks, Restaurant in Missouri earn a median of $36,940 a year ($17.76 an hour), based on BLS data for 25,990 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,970 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $37,390. Missouri ranks 25th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 8.9 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $38,460, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Missouri
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,890 | $13.89 |
| 25th percentile | $30,790 | $14.80 |
| Median | $36,940 | $17.76 |
| 75th percentile | $42,720 | $20.54 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,970 | $22.58 |
| Average (mean) | $38,460 | $18.49 |
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 | $3,078.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,539.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,420.77 |
| Weekly | $710.38 |
| Hourly | $17.76 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in cities in Missouri
| 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 |
| Columbia, MO | $35,240 | 990 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Missouri
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,890 | $14.37 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,510 | $15.15 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $34,900 | $16.78 |
| Cooks, All Other | $43,990 | $21.15 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,490 | $18.50 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,400 | $14.13 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $30,390 | $14.61 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,400 | $17.98 |
| Bartender | $30,090 | $14.47 |
| 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 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,480 | $31.00 |
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 35-2014. 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 Missouri?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Missouri is $36,940 a year, or $17.76 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,970 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Missouri?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Missouri earn at least $46,970 a year. The top 25% earn $42,720 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Missouri?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,890 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $30,790 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Missouri?
About 25,990 cooks, restaurant are employed in Missouri, not counting the self-employed.