Food Preparation Workers Salary in Missouri
As of May 2025, the median annual wage for food preparation workers in Missouri was $31,510 -10.8% vs national
Missouri vs United States
| Missouri | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $31,510 | $35,320 |
| Median hourly | $15.15 | $16.98 |
| Employment | 13,650 | 893,600 |
| Location quotient | 0.81 | 1.00 |
Data source: BLS OES state file (Missouri) · U.S. BLS OES survey, May 2025
What the data says
For career planning: entry-level pay (10th percentile) is about $28,600, median pay is $31,510, and experienced pay (90th percentile) reaches $44,440.
At $15.15 per hour, a full-time schedule (2,080 hours per year) works out to roughly $31,512 — in line with the reported median annual wage of $31,510.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average food preparation workers salary in Missouri?
The median annual wage in Missouri is $31,510 ($15.15 per hour), per BLS OES May 2025 data.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for food preparation workers?
The Missouri median of $31,510 is 10.8% lower than the U.S. median of $35,320.
How many food preparation workers work in Missouri?
Approximately 13,650 are employed in Missouri, per BLS OES.