Cooks, Short Order Salary in St. Louis, MO
Cooks, Short Order in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $38,490 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,235 take-home, or $2,686 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, short order salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,439
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,386
- Medicare (1.45%)$558
- Missouri income tax$872
- Take-home pay$32,235
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Cooks, Short Order pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,610 | $15.20 | $27,030 | $2,253 |
| 25th percentile | $37,900 | $18.22 | $31,789 | $2,649 |
| Median (50th) | $38,490 | $18.50 | $32,235 | $2,686 |
| 75th percentile | $42,470 | $20.42 | $35,246 | $2,937 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,440 | $22.33 | $38,249 | $3,187 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,490 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 cooks, short order's $32,235 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,900 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, Short Order jobs are less concentrated in St. Louis, MO than nationally (location quotient 0.76), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for cooks, short order, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #7 of 45 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $50,870 | $43,054 | $38,741 |
| 2 | Providence, RI | $44,050 | $36,539 | $35,903 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $46,450 | $38,051 | $35,303 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $44,200 | $36,458 | $34,466 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $45,990 | $37,706 | $34,147 |
| 6 | Sioux Falls, SD | $35,570 | $30,760 | $33,940 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $38,490 | $32,235 | $33,900 |
| 8 | Nashville, TN | $37,830 | $32,576 | $33,815 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 45 metros →
Cooks, Short Order salaries elsewhere in Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $29,810
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, short order make in St. Louis, MO?
The median cooks, short order salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $38,490 a year, or about $18.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,900 and $42,470.
What is a cooks, short order’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $38,490 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $32,235 a year ($2,686 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $872 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a cooks, short order?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $35,880. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,900 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #7 of 45 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, short order 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) — 37% of a median cooks, short order’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- Chef and Head Cook — $64,480
- 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
- Food Preparation Worker — $32,400
- 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