Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in St. Louis, MO-IL

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • St. Louis, MO-IL

Median annual salary $60,130 -1.4% vs national
Median hourly $28.91
10th percentile $40,500
90th percentile $95,160
Employed locally 830
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $40,500
    25th
    $49,160
    50th (median)
    $60,130
    75th
    $77,850
    90th
    $95,160

    St. Louis economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $78,225 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 77% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 23% 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 St. Louis, MO-IL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$29,940
    Waiters and Waitresses$29,030
    Cooks, Fast Food$30,380
    Cooks, Restaurant$36,450
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$37,730
    Bartenders$29,120

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in St. Louis?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in St. Louis, MO-IL is $28.91, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $45.68 or more per hour.

    Is St. Louis above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in St. Louis, MO-IL is 1.4% 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 St. Louis?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $40,500 per year in St. Louis, MO-IL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $49,160.