Food Preparation Worker Salary in Kansas City, MO
Food Preparation Workers in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area earn a median $32,230 a year — 9% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $27,499 take-home, or $2,292 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Kansas City, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,688
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,998
- Medicare (1.45%)$467
- Missouri income tax$577
- Take-home pay$27,499
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in Kansas City, MO? City residents also pay Kansas City, MO’s Earnings Tax — about $322 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $27,177 ($2,265 a month). Choose “Kansas City, MO” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Kansas City, MO-KS metro spans Missouri, Kansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Kansas City, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,180 | $13.55 | $24,429 | $2,036 |
| 25th percentile | $29,820 | $14.34 | $25,676 | $2,140 |
| Median (50th) | $32,230 | $15.50 | $27,499 | $2,292 |
| 75th percentile | $37,440 | $18.00 | $31,441 | $2,620 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,240 | $20.79 | $35,828 | $2,986 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $32,230 buys in Kansas City, MO
Prices in Kansas City, MO are 7.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 13% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $27,499 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,715 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Preparation Worker jobs are about as common in Kansas City, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.81).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Kansas City, MO ranks #31 of 65 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 3 | Omaha, NE | $36,140 | $30,454 | $33,134 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $36,930 | $31,620 | $33,121 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $35,360 | $30,402 | $32,369 |
| 6 | Jacksonville, FL | $36,730 | $31,693 | $31,857 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $34,390 | $29,812 | $31,476 |
| 8 | North Port, FL | $37,320 | $32,167 | $31,408 |
| 31 | Kansas City, MO | $32,230 | $27,499 | $29,715 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 65 metros →
About the job: food preparation workers
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -3.0% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Missouri
- St. Louis, MO — $32,400
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Kansas City, MO?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area is $32,230 a year, or about $15.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,820 and $37,440.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Kansas City, MO?
On the median $32,230 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $27,499 a year ($2,292 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $577 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is Kansas City, MO a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 9% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 7.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,715 would in a typical U.S. city. Kansas City, MO ranks #31 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Kansas City, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Kansas City, MO is $1,193 a month ($1,355 for two bedrooms) — 52% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Kansas City, MO
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,210
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,370
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,080
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,080
- Dishwasher — $34,800
- Bartender — $30,300
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $30,200
- Cooks, Fast Food — $30,170
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,560
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,280