Cooks, Short Order salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Cooks, Short Order in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $38,490 a year ($18.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 910 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,440 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is about the same as the Missouri statewide median of $38,490. There are 0.68 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.76). The average (mean) salary is $39,320, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,610 | $15.20 |
| 25th percentile | $37,900 | $18.22 |
| Median | $38,490 | $18.50 |
| 75th percentile | $42,470 | $20.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,440 | $22.33 |
| Average (mean) | $39,320 | $18.91 |
Half of cooks, short order 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 | $3,207.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,603.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,480.38 |
| Weekly | $740.19 |
| Hourly | $18.50 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $38,490 salary, see how much house you can afford in Missouri at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Short Order salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $37,440 | 1,780 |
| Columbia, MO | $35,260 | n/a |
| Rockford, IL | $34,150 | 70 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $33,280 | 170 |
| Peoria, IL | $32,010 | 80 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $29,810 | 480 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
See Cooks, Short Order pay in every state or the Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,860 | $14.84 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,400 | $15.58 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,200 | $17.40 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,260 | $15.03 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,520 | $18.52 |
| Bartender | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,930 | $15.35 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dishwasher | $32,180 | $15.47 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,340 | $16.51 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,480 | $31.00 |
| 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 35-2015. 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 cooks, short order make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $38,490 a year, or $18.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $46,440 a year. The top 25% earn $42,470 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,610 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $37,900 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About 910 cooks, short order are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.