Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Columbia, MO
Cooks, Fast Food in the Columbia, MO metro area earn a median $29,110 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,139 take-home, or $2,095 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, fast food salary in Columbia, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,313
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,805
- Medicare (1.45%)$422
- Missouri income tax$431
- Take-home pay$25,139
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Cooks, Fast Food pay by experience in Columbia, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,600 | $13.75 | $24,753 | $2,063 |
| 25th percentile | $28,600 | $13.75 | $24,753 | $2,063 |
| Median (50th) | $29,110 | $14.00 | $25,139 | $2,095 |
| 75th percentile | $29,850 | $14.35 | $25,699 | $2,142 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,140 | $16.89 | $29,701 | $2,475 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,110 buys in Columbia, MO
Prices in Columbia, MO are 10.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 31% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, fast food's $25,139 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,108 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Columbia, MO has 5.6× the national concentration of cooks, fast food jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cooks, fast food, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, MO ranks #17 of 53 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $47,220 | $38,625 | $34,979 |
| 2 | Bakersfield, CA | $41,480 | $34,321 | $34,020 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $38,560 | $33,163 | $33,817 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $44,030 | $37,558 | $33,796 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $46,670 | $38,217 | $33,056 |
| 6 | Riverside, CA | $42,480 | $35,072 | $32,949 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $42,210 | $34,869 | $32,689 |
| 8 | Fresno, CA | $39,620 | $32,925 | $32,230 |
| 17 | Columbia, MO | $29,110 | $25,139 | $28,108 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 53 metros →
Cooks, Fast Food salaries elsewhere in Missouri
- Springfield, MO — $29,190
- Kansas City, MO — $30,170
- St. Louis, MO — $30,860
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, fast food make in Columbia, MO?
The median cooks, fast food salary in the Columbia, MO metro area is $29,110 a year, or about $14.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,600 and $29,850.
What is a cooks, fast food’s take-home pay in Columbia, MO?
On the median $29,110 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $25,139 a year ($2,095 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $431 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, MO a good place to work as a cooks, fast food?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $30,890. Local prices are 10.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,108 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, MO ranks #17 of 53 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, fast food afford rent in Columbia, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbia, MO is $978 a month ($1,138 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median cooks, fast food’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.