Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Joplin, MO-KS

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Joplin, MO-KS

Median annual salary $29,320 -20.4% vs national
Median hourly $14.10
10th percentile $26,140
90th percentile $38,400
Employed locally 860
National median $36,830

Compare Cooks, Restaurant salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Joplin, MO-KS stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Cooks, Restaurant
in
Joplin, MO-KS
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $26,140
    25th
    $27,180
    50th (median)
    $29,320
    75th
    $35,600
    90th
    $38,400

    Joplin economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,146 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 Joplin, MO-KS

    OccupationMedian salary
    Cooks, Fast Food $27,930
    Waiters and Waitresses $25,580
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,520
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $35,220
    Food Preparation Workers $28,550
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $30,000

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Joplin?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Joplin, MO-KS is $14.10, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.49 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Joplin, MO-KS 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 Joplin?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $26,140 per year in Joplin, MO-KS. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $27,180.