Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Cape Girardeau, MO-IL

Median annual salary $29,300 -20.4% vs national
Median hourly $14.09
10th percentile $26,750
90th percentile $38,530
Employed locally 490
National median $36,830

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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $26,750
    25th
    $27,790
    50th (median)
    $29,300
    75th
    $35,800
    90th
    $38,530

    Cape Girardeau economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $67,267 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 44% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 56% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $45,230
    Vermont $44,560
    Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $43,770
    Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $43,570
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $43,320
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $43,070

    Related occupations in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Cooks, Fast Food $28,220
    Waiters and Waitresses $25,720
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,340
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $35,600
    Bartenders $27,030
    Food Preparation Workers $28,300

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Cape Girardeau?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL is $14.09, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.31 or more per hour.

    Is Cape Girardeau above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL is 20.4% below the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Restaurant in Cape Girardeau?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $26,750 per year in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $27,790.