Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Jefferson City, MO

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Jefferson City, MO

Median annual salary $29,800 -19.1% vs national
Median hourly $14.33
10th percentile $26,640
90th percentile $39,610
Employed locally 580
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Jefferson City, MO
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $26,640
    25th
    $27,780
    50th (median)
    $29,800
    75th
    $36,170
    90th
    $39,610

    Jefferson City economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $72,425 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 41% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 59% 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 Jefferson City, MO

    OccupationMedian salary
    Cooks, Fast Food$27,420
    Waiters and Waitresses$25,580
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$27,940
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$35,520
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$28,790
    Food Preparation Workers$28,110

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Jefferson City?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Jefferson City, MO is $14.33, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.44 or more per hour.

    Is Jefferson City above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Jefferson City, MO is 19.1% 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 Jefferson City?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $26,640 per year in Jefferson City, MO. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $27,780.