How much does a cook make in St. Louis?
$36,200a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area. That is $17.40 an hour or $3,017 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.40
- Vs. national median
- -3%
- Rank among cities
- 218 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 5,410
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $29,690Median: $36,200Highest 10%: $45,020
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,690 | $14.27 | |
| 25th | $31,780 | $15.28 | |
| Median | $36,200 | $17.40 | |
| 75th | $39,210 | $18.85 | |
| 90th | $45,020 | $21.64 |
Other cities in Missouri
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Kansas City, MO | $36,080 |
| Springfield, MO | $34,450 |
| St. Joseph, MO | $34,070 |
| Columbia, MO | $33,900 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO | $33,880 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $31,840 |
| Joplin, MO | $31,070 |
Related jobs in St. Louis
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $64,480 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $38,520 |
| Cook | $38,490 |
| Cook | $37,690 |
| Food Server | $34,340 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,400 |
| Dishwasher | $32,180 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $31,930 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $31,260 |
| Bartender | $31,200 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in St. Louis?
The median hourly pay in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $17.40 ($36,200 a year).
Do cooks make more in St. Louis than the national average?
No: $36,200 against $37,450 nationally, 3% less.
How does St. Louis compare with the rest of Missouri?
The median in Missouri is $34,900, so St. Louis pays 4% more.
Where does St. Louis rank for cook pay?
218 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in St. Louis?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,690 or less a year; the top 10% make $45,020 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.