Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Columbia, MO

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Columbia, MO

Median annual salary $50,400 -17.4% vs national
Median hourly $24.23
10th percentile $35,160
90th percentile $87,100
Employed locally 70
National median $60,990

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Chefs and Head Cooks
in
Columbia, MO
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,160
    25th
    $43,370
    50th (median)
    $50,400
    75th
    $72,280
    90th
    $87,100

    Columbia economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $69,463 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 73% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 27% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $71,600
    Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $69,630
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $69,610
    Mobile, AL $66,440
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $65,450

    Related occupations in Columbia, MO

    OccupationMedian salary
    Waiters and Waitresses $25,950
    Cooks, Fast Food $28,200
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,090
    Cooks, Restaurant $33,850
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $36,850
    Bartenders $25,580

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Columbia?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Columbia, MO is $24.23, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $40.35 or more per hour.

    Is Columbia above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Columbia, MO is 17.4% below the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Columbia?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $35,160 per year in Columbia, MO. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $43,370.