How much does a food preparation worker make in St. Louis?
$32,400a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area. That is $15.58 an hour or $2,700 a month.
- Hourly
- $15.58
- Vs. national median
- -8%
- Rank among cities
- 196 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 6,220
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $29,880Median: $32,400Highest 10%: $40,030
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,880 | $14.37 | |
| 25th | $31,160 | $14.98 | |
| Median | $32,400 | $15.58 | |
| 75th | $37,050 | $17.81 | |
| 90th | $40,030 | $19.25 |
Other cities in Missouri
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| Springfield, MO | $35,340 |
| Kansas City, MO | $32,230 |
| Columbia, MO | $29,710 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $29,200 |
| Joplin, MO | $29,010 |
| St. Joseph, MO | $28,960 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO | $28,860 |
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 |
| Cook | $36,200 |
| Food Server | $34,340 |
| 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 food preparation worker make an hour in St. Louis?
The median hourly pay in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $15.58 ($32,400 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in St. Louis than the national average?
No: $32,400 against $35,320 nationally, 8% less.
How does St. Louis compare with the rest of Missouri?
The median in Missouri is $31,510, so St. Louis pays 3% more.
Where does St. Louis rank for food preparation worker pay?
196 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in St. Louis?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,880 or less a year; the top 10% make $40,030 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.