Food Preparation Worker salary in St. Joseph, MO-KS
Food Preparation Workers in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area earn a median of $28,960 a year ($13.92 an hour), based on BLS data for 440 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $41,730 for the top 10%. That is 18% lower than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 8% lower than the Missouri statewide median of $31,510. There are 8.1 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $32,200, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in St. Joseph, MO-KS
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| 25th percentile | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Median | $28,960 | $13.92 |
| 75th percentile | $34,350 | $16.52 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $41,730 | $20.06 |
| Average (mean) | $32,200 | $15.48 |
Half of food preparation workers 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 | $2,413.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,206.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,113.85 |
| Weekly | $556.92 |
| Hourly | $13.92 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Preparation Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Springfield, MO | $35,340 | 1,490 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $32,400 | 6,220 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $32,230 | 5,080 |
| Lawrence, KS | $31,350 | 350 |
| Topeka, KS | $30,300 | 700 |
| Wichita, KS | $29,940 | 1,380 |
| Columbia, MO | $29,710 | 470 |
| Manhattan, KS | $29,270 | 290 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $29,200 | 260 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $29,010 | 410 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $28,860 | 240 |
Highest-paying states for food preparation workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| California | $39,350 |
| Colorado | $38,960 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 |
| Oregon | $37,450 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 |
| Arizona | $36,750 |
See Food Preparation Worker pay in every state or the Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in St. Joseph, MO-KS
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,620 | $14.24 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,560 | $17.09 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $34,070 | $16.38 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,430 | $14.15 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,490 | $14.66 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,900 | $17.74 |
| Bartender | $29,000 | $13.94 |
| Dishwasher | $30,550 | $14.69 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,210 | $14.52 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,460 | $14.16 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,600 | $13.75 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in St. Joseph, MO-KS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2021. 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 food preparation worker make in St. Joseph, MO-KS?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area is $28,960 a year, or $13.92 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $41,730 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in St. Joseph, MO-KS?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area earn at least $41,730 a year. The top 25% earn $34,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in St. Joseph, MO-KS?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,600 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $28,600 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in St. Joseph, MO-KS?
About 440 food preparation workers are employed in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area, not counting the self-employed.