Cooks, Restaurant salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Cooks, Restaurant in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $37,690 a year ($18.12 an hour), based on BLS data for 12,970 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,230 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 2% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $36,940. There are 9.7 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $40,500, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,690 | $14.27 |
| 25th percentile | $35,320 | $16.98 |
| Median | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| 75th percentile | $45,050 | $21.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,230 | $22.71 |
| Average (mean) | $40,500 | $19.47 |
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 | $3,140.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,570.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,449.62 |
| Weekly | $724.81 |
| Hourly | $18.12 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $38,930 | 41,690 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $37,370 | 9,940 |
| Springfield, IL | $36,550 | 850 |
| Decatur, IL | $36,440 | 320 |
| Rockford, IL | $36,200 | 1,130 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $36,040 | 970 |
| Peoria, IL | $36,040 | 1,420 |
| Kankakee, IL | $35,560 | 320 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $35,560 | 320 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $35,480 | 1,560 |
| Bloomington, IL | $35,310 | 850 |
| 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 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $31,200 | 490 |
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 St. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,860 | $14.84 |
| 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 35-2014. 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 St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $37,690 a year, or $18.12 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,230 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $47,230 a year. The top 25% earn $45,050 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,690 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $35,320 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About 12,970 cooks, restaurant are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.