Food Preparation Worker salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Food Preparation Workers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $32,400 a year ($15.58 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,220 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $40,030 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 3% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $31,510. There are 4.6 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $34,370, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,880 | $14.37 |
| 25th percentile | $31,160 | $14.98 |
| Median | $32,400 | $15.58 |
| 75th percentile | $37,050 | $17.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $40,030 | $19.24 |
| Average (mean) | $34,370 | $16.52 |
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 | $2,700 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,350 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,246.15 |
| Weekly | $623.08 |
| Hourly | $15.58 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $35,410 | 27,100 |
| Springfield, MO | $35,340 | 1,490 |
| Decatur, IL | $33,450 | 200 |
| Rockford, IL | $32,530 | 720 |
| Springfield, IL | $32,530 | 510 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $32,230 | 5,080 |
| Peoria, IL | $32,140 | 770 |
| Bloomington, IL | $32,030 | 580 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $31,850 | 660 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 | 620 |
| Kankakee, IL | $31,200 | 270 |
| Columbia, MO | $29,710 | 470 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $29,200 | 260 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $29,010 | 410 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $28,960 | 440 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $28,860 | 240 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $27,210 | 480 |
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. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,860 | $14.84 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| 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 35-2021. 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. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $32,400 a year, or $15.58 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $40,030 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $40,030 a year. The top 25% earn $37,050 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,880 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $31,160 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About 6,220 food preparation workers are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.