Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria · Missouri

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Missouri

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Missouri earn a median annual wage of $34,900 —6.8% below the national median of $37,450. That ranks MO #43 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$34,900
Median hourly
$16.78
Entry level (P10)
$28,600
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$43,700
90th percentile
Employment
13,130
4.5 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-6.8%
U.S. $37,450

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$28,600
$29,850
$34,900
$38,000
$28,600$34,900$43,700
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $34,900.

Employment is 1.58× as concentrated as the national average, making Missouri a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Missouri is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Washington$49,670$23.889,7800.97
2Alaska$48,580$23.361,4301.55
3Massachusetts$47,790$22.987,4300.72
4Hawaii$47,770$22.971,5700.88
5Rhode Island$46,570$22.391,1900.84
6California$46,390$22.3131,6600.61
7Vermont$46,370$22.291,3301.55
8Connecticut$46,120$22.174,5000.94
9New York$45,880$22.0617,6700.64
10District of Columbia$45,450$21.851,5000.75

Related occupations in Missouri

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Missouri.

OccupationMissouri medianU.S. median
Fast Food and Counter Workers$30,390$31,200
Waiters and Waitresses$29,400$35,230
Cooks, Restaurant$36,940$37,390
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$37,400$44,080
Food Preparation Workers$31,510$35,320
Bartenders$30,090$34,340

Frequently asked questions

How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Missouri?

The median annual wage for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Missouri is $34,900, or $16.78 per hour. That is 6.8% below the national median of $37,450.

What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Missouri?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $28,600 per year ($13.75/hour). The 25th percentile is $29,850.

How many people work as cooks, institution and cafeteria in Missouri?

About 13,130 people work in this occupation in Missouri, or 4.5 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Missouri a good state for cooks, institution and cafeteria?

Missouri ranks #43 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.58x as concentrated as the national average, making Missouri a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays cooks, institution and cafeteria the most?

Washington has the highest median wage at $49,670 per year, followed by Alaska ($48,580) and Massachusetts ($47,790).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes