Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in St. Louis, MO-IL

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

Median annual salary $35,280 -3.2% vs national
Median hourly $16.96
10th percentile $28,430
90th percentile $45,080
Employed locally 5,560
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $28,430
    25th
    $29,390
    50th (median)
    $35,280
    75th
    $38,040
    90th
    $45,080

    St. Louis economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $78,225 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 45% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 55% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $54,840
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,290
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $50,150
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,850
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    Washington $48,260

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,850
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $47,920
    North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $45,270
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $45,150
    Modesto, CA $43,740
    Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $41,550

    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 Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make per hour in St. Louis?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in St. Louis, MO-IL is $16.96, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.64 or more per hour.

    Is St. Louis above or below average for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries?

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in St. Louis, MO-IL is 3.2% below the national median of $36,450. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in St. Louis?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $28,430 per year in St. Louis, MO-IL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,390.