Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Missouri
As of May 2025, the median annual wage for cooks, restaurant in Missouri was $36,940 -1.2% vs national
Missouri vs United States
| Missouri | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $36,940 | $37,390 |
| Median hourly | $17.76 | $17.98 |
| Employment | 25,990 | 1,409,890 |
| Location quotient | 0.98 | 1.00 |
Data source: BLS OES state file (Missouri) · U.S. BLS OES survey, May 2025
The numbers in context
At $17.76 per hour, a full-time schedule (2,080 hours per year) works out to roughly $36,941 — in line with the reported median annual wage of $36,940.
Pay spans a wide range: workers at the 10th percentile earn about $28,890, while those at the 90th percentile earn about $46,970 — a 1.6x gap between entry-level and top earners.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average cooks, restaurant salary in Missouri?
The median annual wage in Missouri is $36,940 ($17.76 per hour), per BLS OES May 2025 data.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for cooks, restaurant?
The Missouri median of $36,940 is 1.2% lower than the U.S. median of $37,390.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Missouri?
Approximately 25,990 are employed in Missouri, per BLS OES.