Cooks, Restaurant pay in Springfield

In Springfield (MO), the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $16.87 an hour ($35,100 a year). About 1,910 people work in this job there.

$16.87Median hourly pay
$30,380–$36,790Middle half of workers, yearly
1,910People in this job in Springfield (MO)

That is 6% lower than the U.S. median ($37,390). It is 5% lower than the Missouri median ($36,940).

Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Springfield (MO)

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$13.96$29,050
25% of workers$14.61$30,380
Half of workers (median)$16.87$35,100
75% of workers$17.69$36,790
90% of workers$20.91$43,490

Cooks, Restaurant pay in Missouri metro areas

Metro areaMedian yearly payPeople in this job
St. Louis$37,69012,970
Kansas City$37,3709,940
St. Joseph$35,560320
Columbia$35,240990
Springfield (this page)$35,1001,910
Cape Girardeau$34,870380
Jefferson City$34,670460
Joplin$33,930700

Missouri unemployment rate: 3.5% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Education, experience and outlook for cooks, restaurant

  • Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
  • Related work experience most have: 3 to 6 months (O*NET)
  • Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
  • Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
  • Job outlook: +12.1% over ten years, much faster than average · about 218,600 openings a year (BLS)

Related jobs in Springfield (MO)

JobMedian yearly pay
Cooks, Fast Food$29,190
Food Preparation Workers$35,340

Other job titles for this job

CookFRY CookGrill CookLine CookSpecialty CookPrep CookBack Line CookBanquet CookBreakfast CookForeign Food Specialty CookHotel CookLarder Cook

Open cooks, restaurant jobs on JAI Bot

No open jobs in this field right now. Search all jobs or set up a free job alert.

Hiring cooks, restaurant? Use the free hiring guide for a job description and interview questions, then post the job on JAI Bot. Every job shows typical pay to job seekers.

Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any job
Add this pay figure to your website (free)

Career sites, schools and workforce boards can show this typical pay on their own pages. Copy this code into your page:

<div data-jaibot-pay></div>
<script src="https://www.jaibot.ai/widget/pay/cooks-restaurant/missouri/springfield.js" async></script>

It updates by itself when new government figures come out.

Source: 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.