Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Columbia, MO

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

Median annual salary $28,200 -6.5% vs national
Median hourly $13.56
10th percentile $26,650
90th percentile $34,150
Employed locally 2,220
National median $30,160

Compare Cooks, Fast Food salary & buying power

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Cooks, Fast Food
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Columbia, MO
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $26,650
    25th
    $27,480
    50th (median)
    $28,200
    75th
    $29,130
    90th
    $34,150

    Columbia economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $69,463 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 41% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 59% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Fast Food

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,580
    Hawaii $40,300
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Fast Food salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $37,360
    Vermont $37,050
    Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $36,780
    Modesto, CA $36,650
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $36,200

    Related occupations in Columbia, MO

    OccupationMedian salary
    Waiters and Waitresses $25,950
    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
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $31,360

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in Columbia?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Columbia, MO is $13.56, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $16.89 or more per hour.

    Is Columbia above or below average for Cooks, Fast Food salaries?

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Columbia, MO is 6.5% below the national median of $30,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Columbia?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $26,650 per year in Columbia, MO. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $27,480.