SOC 35-9099 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — St. Louis
St. Louis, MO-IL · 3 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in St.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in St. Louis, MO is $28,600 a year, trailing the national median of $35,840 by 20.2%. Half of workers earn between $28,600 and $35,010. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $28,600 and the ninetieth at $46,800.
Kansas City leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $35,820. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 651st of 652 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,600 | −20.2% |
| 25th | $28,600 | −20.2% |
| Median (50th) | $28,600 | −20.2% |
| 75th | $35,010 | −2.3% |
| 90th | $46,800 | +30.6% |
| Mean | $33,450 | −6.7% |
Other metro areas in Missouri
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City | $35,820 | — | |
| 2 | Jefferson City | $35,710 | 70 | |
| 3 | Springfield | $32,740 | — |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in St. Louis run 9.2% below the national average, so the median of $28,600 goes as far as $31,498 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 12.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$28,600as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$31,498US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $28,600 a year, 20.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $28,600 to $46,800 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Kansas City, at $35,820.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in St. Louis, MO?
The median annual wage is $28,600, or $13.75 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 $35,840, so pay in St. Louis, MO is 20.2% 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 St. Louis, MO earns more than $46,800 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $28,600 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 Kansas City, at $35,820 per year.
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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