Chefs and Head Cooks salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Chefs and Head Cooks in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $64,480 a year ($31.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,030 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,930 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,020 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is about the same as the Missouri statewide median of $64,480. There are 0.77 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.60). The average (mean) salary is $66,800, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,930 | $20.64 |
| 25th percentile | $49,360 | $23.73 |
| Median | $64,480 | $31.00 |
| 75th percentile | $76,540 | $36.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,020 | $45.68 |
| Average (mean) | $66,800 | $32.12 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,373.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,686.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,480 |
| Weekly | $1,240 |
| Hourly | $31.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $64,480 salary, see how much house you can afford in Missouri at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Springfield, MO | $67,460 | 80 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $64,010 | 890 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $60,770 | 6,840 |
| Bloomington, IL | $55,700 | 100 |
| Columbia, MO | $52,870 | 60 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $48,850 | 180 |
| Springfield, IL | $48,100 | 100 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $48,040 | 130 |
| Peoria, IL | $47,800 | 190 |
| Rockford, IL | $47,740 | 130 |
| Kankakee, IL | $47,160 | 40 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $44,720 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,520 | $18.52 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,260 | $15.03 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,860 | $14.84 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| Bartender | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,930 | $15.35 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,400 | $15.58 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,200 | $17.40 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dishwasher | $32,180 | $15.47 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,340 | $16.51 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,490 | $18.50 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $28,600 | $13.75 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in St. Louis, MO-IL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $64,480 a year, or $31.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,930 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,020 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $95,020 a year. The top 25% earn $76,540 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,930 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $49,360 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About 1,030 chefs and head cooks are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.