Food Preparation Worker Salary in Springfield, MO
Food Preparation Workers in the Springfield, MO metro area earn a median $35,340 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,852 take-home, or $2,488 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Springfield, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,061
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,191
- Medicare (1.45%)$512
- Missouri income tax$724
- Take-home pay$29,852
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Springfield, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,600 | $13.75 | $24,753 | $2,063 |
| 25th percentile | $29,370 | $14.12 | $25,336 | $2,111 |
| Median (50th) | $35,340 | $16.99 | $29,852 | $2,488 |
| 75th percentile | $49,620 | $23.86 | $40,655 | $3,388 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,620 | $23.86 | $40,655 | $3,388 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,340 buys in Springfield, MO
Prices in Springfield, MO are 11.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 34% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $29,852 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,699 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 about as common in Springfield, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.16).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Springfield, MO ranks #7 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 |
*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
- Kansas City, MO — $32,230
- St. Louis, MO — $32,400
- St. Joseph, MO — $28,960
- Columbia, MO — $29,710
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Springfield, MO?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Springfield, MO metro area is $35,340 a year, or about $16.99 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,370 and $49,620.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Springfield, MO?
On the median $35,340 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $29,852 a year ($2,488 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $724 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is Springfield, MO a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 11.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,699 would in a typical U.S. city. Springfield, MO ranks #7 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Springfield, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Springfield, MO is $868 a month ($1,074 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Springfield, MO
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,450
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,100
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $34,450
- Dishwasher — $30,680
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,950
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,410
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,350
- Cooks, Fast Food — $29,190
- Bartender — $29,120
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,660