SOC 35-3041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — Missouri
Missouri · 8 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Missouri is $31,840 a year, trailing the national median of $35,360 by 10.0%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Missouri is $31,840 a year, trailing the national median of $35,360 by 10.0%. Half of workers earn between $29,900 and $35,590. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $28,600 and the ninetieth at $38,370.
The area has 7,490 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 2.6 of every thousand jobs. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Missouri ranks 34th by median wage. St. Louis leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $34,340. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 708th of 733 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,600 | −19.1% |
| 25th | $29,900 | −15.4% |
| Median (50th) | $31,840 | −10.0% |
| 75th | $35,590 | +0.7% |
| 90th | $38,370 | +8.5% |
| Mean | $33,390 | −5.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Missouri
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis | $34,340 | 3,250 | |
| 2 | Kansas City | $33,620 | 2,260 | |
| 3 | Columbia | $32,800 | 330 | |
| 4 | Springfield | $31,130 | 410 | |
| 5 | Joplin | $30,370 | 200 | |
| 6 | Jefferson City | $30,210 | 150 | |
| 7 | St. Joseph | $30,210 | 130 | |
| 8 | Cape Girardeau | $30,090 | 180 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Missouri run 9.2% below the national average, so the median of $31,840 goes as far as $35,066 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 0.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$31,840as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$35,066US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $31,840 a year, 10.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $28,600 to $38,370 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 7,490 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 34th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is St. Louis, at $34,340.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Missouri?
The median annual wage is $31,840, or $15.31 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 $35,360, so pay in Missouri is 10.0% 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 Missouri earns more than $38,370 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 St. Louis, at $34,340 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 7,490 jobs in this occupation in Missouri. 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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