Food Preparation Worker Salary in St. Joseph, MO
Food Preparation Workers in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area earn a median $28,960 a year — 18% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,026 take-home, or $2,085 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in St. Joseph, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,295
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,796
- Medicare (1.45%)$420
- Missouri income tax$424
- Take-home pay$25,026
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
The St. Joseph, MO-KS metro spans Missouri, Kansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in St. Joseph, 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) | $28,960 | $13.92 | $25,026 | $2,085 |
| 75th percentile | $34,350 | $16.51 | $29,103 | $2,425 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $41,730 | $20.06 | $34,686 | $2,891 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,960 buys in St. Joseph, MO
Prices in St. Joseph, MO are 13.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 45% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $25,026 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,971 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
St. Joseph, MO has 1.4× the national concentration of food preparation worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
St. Joseph, MO ranks #148 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 |
| 148 | St. Joseph, MO | $28,960 | $25,026 | $28,971 |
*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
- Columbia, MO — $29,710
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in St. Joseph, MO?
The median food preparation worker salary in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area is $28,960 a year, or about $13.92 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,600 and $34,350.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in St. Joseph, MO?
On the median $28,960 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $25,026 a year ($2,085 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $424 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Joseph, MO a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 18% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 13.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,971 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Joseph, MO ranks #148 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in St. Joseph, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Joseph, MO is $832 a month ($1,077 for two bedrooms) — 40% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Joseph, MO
- Waiter and Waitress — $30,490
- Cooks, Fast Food — $29,620
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,430