Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Joplin, MO
Cooks, Restaurant in the Joplin, MO-KS metro area earn a median $33,930 a year — 9% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,785 take-home, or $2,399 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Joplin, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,892
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,104
- Medicare (1.45%)$492
- Missouri income tax$657
- Take-home pay$28,785
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
The Joplin, MO-KS metro spans Missouri, Kansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Joplin, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,600 | $13.75 | $24,753 | $2,063 |
| 25th percentile | $29,160 | $14.02 | $25,177 | $2,098 |
| Median (50th) | $33,930 | $16.31 | $28,785 | $2,399 |
| 75th percentile | $36,520 | $17.56 | $30,745 | $2,562 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,610 | $20.49 | $35,352 | $2,946 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,930 buys in Joplin, MO
Prices in Joplin, MO are 14.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 46% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $28,785 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,581 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 Joplin, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Joplin, MO ranks #65 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 |
| 65 | Joplin, MO | $33,930 | $28,785 | $33,581 |
*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
- Springfield, MO — $35,100
- Jefferson City, MO — $34,670
- Columbia, MO — $35,240
- St. Louis, MO — $37,690
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Joplin, MO?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Joplin, MO-KS metro area is $33,930 a year, or about $16.31 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,160 and $36,520.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Joplin, MO?
On the median $33,930 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $28,785 a year ($2,399 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $657 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is Joplin, MO a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 9% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 14.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,581 would in a typical U.S. city. Joplin, MO ranks #65 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Joplin, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Joplin, MO is $756 a month ($940 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Joplin, MO
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $35,370
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,730
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,600
- Waiter and Waitress — $28,600