Cooks, Short Order Salary in Columbia, MO

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

Median annual salary $29,750 -16.5% vs national
Median hourly $14.30
10th percentile $27,810
90th percentile $37,840
National median $35,620

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Cooks, Short Order
in
Columbia, MO
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $27,810
    25th
    $29,520
    50th (median)
    $29,750
    75th
    $34,760
    90th
    $37,840

    Columbia economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $69,463 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Short Order salary vs area income 43% Median Cooks, Short Order salary is 57% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Short Order

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,970
    Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $48,700
    Barnstable Town, MA $46,830
    Arizona $46,240
    Washington $46,010
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $46,010

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Short Order salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $44,270
    Vermont $39,140
    Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $38,300
    Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $38,000
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $37,360
    St. Louis, MO-IL $37,350

    Related occupations in Columbia, MO

    OccupationMedian salary
    Waiters and Waitresses $25,950
    Cooks, Fast Food $28,200
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,090
    Cooks, Restaurant $33,850
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $36,850
    Bartenders $25,580

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Short Order make per hour in Columbia?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Short Order in Columbia, MO is $14.30, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.54 or more per hour.

    Is Columbia above or below average for Cooks, Short Order salaries?

    The median Cooks, Short Order salary in Columbia, MO is 16.5% below the national median of $35,620. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Short Order in Columbia?

    Entry-level Cooks, Short Order (10th percentile) earn around $27,810 per year in Columbia, MO. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,520.