Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Columbia, MO
Cooks, Restaurant in the Columbia, MO metro area earn a median $35,240 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,776 take-home, or $2,481 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Columbia, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,049
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,185
- Medicare (1.45%)$511
- Missouri income tax$719
- Take-home pay$29,776
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Columbia, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,750 | $13.82 | $24,867 | $2,072 |
| 25th percentile | $29,910 | $14.38 | $25,744 | $2,145 |
| Median (50th) | $35,240 | $16.94 | $29,776 | $2,481 |
| 75th percentile | $37,060 | $17.82 | $31,153 | $2,596 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,420 | $21.36 | $36,721 | $3,060 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,240 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, restaurant's $29,776 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,293 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Columbia, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.02).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, MO ranks #75 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
| 75 | Columbia, MO | $35,240 | $29,776 | $33,293 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $37,370
- Joplin, MO — $33,930
- Springfield, MO — $35,100
- Jefferson City, MO — $34,670
- St. Louis, MO — $37,690
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Columbia, MO?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Columbia, MO metro area is $35,240 a year, or about $16.94 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,910 and $37,060.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Columbia, MO?
On the median $35,240 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $29,776 a year ($2,481 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $719 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, MO a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 10.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,293 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, MO ranks #75 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant 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) — 39% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbia, MO
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,060
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $33,900
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,860
- Food Preparation Worker — $29,710
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,390
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,250
- Cooks, Fast Food — $29,110
- Bartender — $28,600