Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Jefferson City, MO
Cooks, Restaurant in the Jefferson City, MO metro area earn a median $34,670 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,345 take-home, or $2,445 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Jefferson City, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,980
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,150
- Medicare (1.45%)$503
- Missouri income tax$692
- Take-home pay$29,345
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Jefferson City, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,600 | $13.75 | $24,753 | $2,063 |
| 25th percentile | $29,360 | $14.12 | $25,328 | $2,111 |
| Median (50th) | $34,670 | $16.67 | $29,345 | $2,445 |
| 75th percentile | $36,920 | $17.75 | $31,047 | $2,587 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,520 | $20.44 | $35,284 | $2,940 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,670 buys in Jefferson City, MO
Prices in Jefferson City, MO are 12.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 38% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $29,345 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,356 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 less concentrated in Jefferson City, MO than nationally (location quotient 0.63), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Jefferson City, MO ranks #72 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 |
| 72 | Jefferson City, MO | $34,670 | $29,345 | $33,356 |
*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
- Columbia, MO — $35,240
- St. Louis, MO — $37,690
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Jefferson City, MO?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Jefferson City, MO metro area is $34,670 a year, or about $16.67 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,360 and $36,920.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Jefferson City, MO?
On the median $34,670 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $29,345 a year ($2,445 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $692 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is Jefferson City, MO a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 12.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,356 would in a typical U.S. city. Jefferson City, MO ranks #72 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Jefferson City, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Jefferson City, MO is $725 a month ($950 for two bedrooms) — 30% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Jefferson City, MO
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,000
- Waiter and Waitress — $30,280
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,580
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,600