Food Preparation Worker Salary in Columbia, MO
Food Preparation Workers in the Columbia, MO metro area earn a median $29,710 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,593 take-home, or $2,133 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Columbia, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,385
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,842
- Medicare (1.45%)$431
- Missouri income tax$459
- Take-home pay$25,593
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Food Preparation Worker 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) | $29,710 | $14.28 | $25,593 | $2,133 |
| 75th percentile | $35,160 | $16.90 | $29,716 | $2,476 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,090 | $18.31 | $31,932 | $2,661 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,710 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 food preparation worker's $25,593 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,615 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Preparation Worker jobs are less concentrated in Columbia, MO than nationally (location quotient 0.77), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, MO ranks #157 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 157 | Columbia, MO | $29,710 | $25,593 | $28,615 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Missouri
- Springfield, MO — $35,340
- Kansas City, MO — $32,230
- St. Louis, MO — $32,400
- St. Joseph, MO — $28,960
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Columbia, MO?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Columbia, MO metro area is $29,710 a year, or about $14.28 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,600 and $35,160.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Columbia, MO?
On the median $29,710 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $25,593 a year ($2,133 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $459 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, MO a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 10.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,615 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, MO ranks #157 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker 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) — 46% of a median food preparation worker’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, Restaurant — $35,240
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $33,900
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,860
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,390
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,250
- Cooks, Fast Food — $29,110
- Bartender — $28,600