Cooks, Restaurant pay in St. Louis
In St. Louis (MO), the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $18.12 an hour ($37,690 a year). About 12,970 people work in this job there.
That is about the same as the U.S. median ($37,390). It is 2% higher than the Missouri median ($36,940).
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in St. Louis (MO)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $14.27 | $29,690 |
| 25% of workers | $16.98 | $35,320 |
| Half of workers (median) | $18.12 | $37,690 |
| 75% of workers | $21.66 | $45,050 |
| 90% of workers | $22.71 | $47,230 |
Cooks, Restaurant pay in Missouri metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis (this page) | $37,690 | 12,970 |
| Kansas City | $37,370 | 9,940 |
| St. Joseph | $35,560 | 320 |
| Columbia | $35,240 | 990 |
| Springfield | $35,100 | 1,910 |
| Cape Girardeau | $34,870 | 380 |
| Jefferson City | $34,670 | 460 |
| Joplin | $33,930 | 700 |
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 St. Louis (MO)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,860 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $32,400 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,200 |
| Bakers | $35,830 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,480 |
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.