Food Preparation Worker Salary in St. Louis, MO
Food Preparation Workers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $32,400 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $27,628 take-home, or $2,302 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,708
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,009
- Medicare (1.45%)$470
- Missouri income tax$585
- Take-home pay$27,628
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in St. Louis? City residents also pay St. Louis’s Earnings Tax — about $324 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $27,304 ($2,275 a month). Choose “St. Louis” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. 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 St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,880 | $14.37 | $25,722 | $2,143 |
| 25th percentile | $31,160 | $14.98 | $26,690 | $2,224 |
| Median (50th) | $32,400 | $15.58 | $27,628 | $2,302 |
| 75th percentile | $37,050 | $17.81 | $31,146 | $2,595 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $40,030 | $19.25 | $33,400 | $2,783 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $32,400 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $27,628 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,055 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 St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.81).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #39 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 |
| 39 | St. Louis, MO | $32,400 | $27,628 | $29,055 |
*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
- Kansas City, MO — $32,230
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in St. Louis, MO?
The median food preparation worker salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $32,400 a year, or about $15.58 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,160 and $37,050.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $32,400 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $27,628 a year ($2,302 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $585 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,055 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #39 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,520
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,690
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,200
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,340
- Dishwasher — $32,180
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $31,930
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,260
- Waiter and Waitress — $31,200
- Bartender — $31,200
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $31,200
- Cooks, Fast Food — $30,860