SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL · 7 metro areas compared
At $34,870, median pay for Cooks, Restaurant in Cape Girardeau, MO tracks the national median of $37,390 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $34,870, median pay for Cooks, Restaurant in Cape Girardeau, MO tracks the national median of $37,390 closely. Pay ranges from under $28,850 at the tenth percentile to more than $42,250 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $29,870 to $36,510.
Employment stands at 380, or 8.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, St. Louis records the highest median at $37,690. Of the 204 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 175th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,850 | −22.8% |
| 25th | $29,870 | −20.1% |
| Median (50th) | $34,870 | −6.7% |
| 75th | $36,510 | −2.4% |
| 90th | $42,250 | +13.0% |
| Mean | $34,230 | −8.5% |
Other metro areas in Missouri
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis | $37,690 | 12,970 | |
| 2 | Kansas City | $37,370 | 9,940 | |
| 3 | St. Joseph | $35,560 | 320 | |
| 4 | Columbia | $35,240 | 990 | |
| 5 | Springfield | $35,100 | 1,910 | |
| 6 | Jefferson City | $34,670 | 460 | |
| 7 | Joplin | $33,930 | 700 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Cape Girardeau run 9.2% below the national average, so the median of $34,870 goes as far as $38,403 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 2.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$34,870as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$38,403US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $34,870 a year, 6.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $28,850 to $42,250 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 380 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is St. Louis, at $37,690.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Cape Girardeau, MO?
The median annual wage is $34,870, or $16.77 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $37,390, so pay in Cape Girardeau, MO is 6.7% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Cape Girardeau, MO earns more than $42,250 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $28,850 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in St. Louis, at $37,690 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 380 jobs in this occupation in Cape Girardeau, MO. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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