Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Missouri
In Missouri, the median pay for chefs and head cooks is $31.00 an hour ($64,480 a year). About 1,750 people work in this job there.
That is 3% higher than the U.S. median ($62,470). Missouri ranks 16th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Missouri
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $19.06 | $39,650 |
| 25% of workers | $23.82 | $49,550 |
| Half of workers (median) | $31.00 | $64,480 |
| 75% of workers | $36.79 | $76,520 |
| 90% of workers | $43.99 | $91,500 |
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Missouri metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Springfield | $67,460 | 80 |
| St. Louis | $64,480 | 1,030 |
| Kansas City | $64,010 | 890 |
| Columbia | $52,870 | 60 |
Missouri unemployment rate: 3.5% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for chefs and head cooks
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: 5 years or more (BLS)
- Job outlook: +6.6% over ten years, faster than average · about 25,200 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Missouri
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,400 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,940 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,400 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $34,900 |
| Bakers | $35,130 |
| Food Batchmakers | $45,690 |
| Food Service Managers | $65,520 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.