Salaries › Cafeteria Cook › Missouri
Cafeteria Cook Salary in Missouri (2026)
$16.78 per hour · take-home ≈ $29,519/year ($2,460/month) for a single filer
Missouri ranks 43rd of 51 states for Cafeteria Cook pay, with a median about 8% below the national average. Of the 13,130 Cafeteria Cook jobs BLS counts in Missouri, the typical worker earns $34,900 a year — though pay ranges from $28,600 for newcomers to $43,700 at the top.
Cafeteria Cook pay range in Missouri
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $28,600 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $29,850 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $34,900 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $38,000 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $43,700 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 13,130 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Missouri (occupation code 35-2012, “Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria”).
Gross vs. take-home in Missouri
A median Cafeteria Cook salary of $34,900 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Missouri state income tax, a single filer keeps about $29,519 — an effective tax rate of 15.4%.
| Gross (median) | $34,900 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,008 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,670 |
| Missouri state income tax | −$703 |
| Take-home (annual) | $29,519 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,460 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Missouri paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cafeteria Cook make in Missouri?
- The median Cafeteria Cook salary in Missouri is $34,900 per year ($16.78 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $29,850 and $38,000.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cafeteria Cook in Missouri?
- On the median salary of $34,900, a single filer in Missouri takes home about $29,519 per year ($2,460 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 15.4%.
- How many Cafeteria Cook jobs are there in Missouri?
- BLS counts 13,130 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Missouri in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Cafeteria Cooks
Other salaries in Missouri
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Missouri state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Missouri.