Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Columbia, MO

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

Median annual salary $33,850 -8.1% vs national
Median hourly $16.27
10th percentile $27,580
90th percentile $39,870
Employed locally 1,200
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Columbia, MO
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $27,580
    25th
    $28,510
    50th (median)
    $33,850
    75th
    $36,220
    90th
    $39,870

    Columbia economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $69,463 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 49% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 51% 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 Columbia, MO

    OccupationMedian salary
    Waiters and Waitresses$25,950
    Cooks, Fast Food$28,200
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$28,090
    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, Restaurant make per hour in Columbia?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Columbia, MO is $16.27, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.36 or more per hour.

    Is Columbia above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Columbia, MO is 8.1% 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 Columbia?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $27,580 per year in Columbia, MO. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $28,510.