Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in St. Louis
In St. Louis (MO), the median pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria is $17.40 an hour ($36,200 a year). About 5,410 people work in this job there.
That is 3% lower than the U.S. median ($37,450). It is 4% higher than the Missouri median ($34,900).
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in St. Louis (MO)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $14.28 | $29,690 |
| 25% of workers | $15.28 | $31,780 |
| Half of workers (median) | $17.40 | $36,200 |
| 75% of workers | $18.85 | $39,210 |
| 90% of workers | $21.64 | $45,020 |
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Missouri metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis (this page) | $36,200 | 5,410 |
| Kansas City | $36,080 | 4,470 |
| Springfield | $34,450 | 940 |
| St. Joseph | $34,070 | 210 |
| Columbia | $33,900 | 550 |
| Cape Girardeau | $33,880 | 200 |
| Jefferson City | $31,840 | 340 |
| Joplin | $31,070 | 350 |
Missouri unemployment rate: 3.5% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 3 months (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +2.8% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 62,900 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in St. Louis (MO)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,260 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,860 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,690 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,520 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $32,400 |
| Bakers | $35,830 |
| Food Service Managers | $64,460 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,480 |
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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.