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Columbia, MO metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a food preparation worker make in Columbia, MO?

In the Columbia, MO metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median of $29,710 a year ($14.28 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 470 of these jobs there. That is 37% below the $47,260 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $28,600 and $38,090; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Missouri tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $25,588 in take-home pay.

Food preparation worker pay in Columbia, MO at a glance

Median salary

$29,710$14.28 per hour · $2,476 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$28,600$13.75/hr
25th percentile$28,600$13.75/hr
75th percentile$35,160$16.90/hr
90th percentile$38,090$18.31/hr
Jobs in this metro470Location quotient 0.77 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here37% belowAll-jobs median $47,260
Against Missouri6% belowStatewide median $31,510
Against the U.S.16% belowNational median $35,320

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Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-home payWhat $30,000 a year leaves after tax in MissouriFederal tax, FICA and Missouri withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$14 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $30,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $30,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation Missouri publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Missouri.

Food preparation worker salary in Columbia, MO after taxes

$29,710
$15,000$60,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$29,710
Net 86%
Fed 5%
MO 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$25,588After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,132Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$984Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate13.9%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,385 / yr
Missouri state income tax$464 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,273 / yr
Customize deductions in full Missouri calculator

Food preparation workers pay range in Columbia, MO, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Columbia, MO metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What food preparation workers earned in the Columbia, MO metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (MO)
10th percentile$13.75/hr$2,383$28,600$24,747
25th percentile$13.75/hr$2,383$28,600$24,747
MedianMedian$14.28/hr$2,476$29,710$25,588
75th percentile$16.90/hr$2,930$35,160$29,719
90th percentile$18.31/hr$3,174$38,090$31,939

Is $29,710 a good salary in Columbia, MO?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for food preparation workers next to both.

Median household income$72,340Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)89.410.6% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household41.1%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

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Food preparation workers pay in other Missouri metros

Metros in the same state that are closest in size to Columbia, MO. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Food preparation worker pay in Columbia, MO: common questions

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Columbia, MO?

The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the Columbia, MO metro area was $29,710 in May 2025, about $2,476 a month or $14.28 an hour. Statewide, the Missouri median for this job is $31,510, so the metro pays 6% below the state.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Columbia, MO?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Columbia, MO was $14.28 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $13.75 an hour and one in ten earned more than $18.31.

How many food preparation workers work in Columbia, MO?

BLS estimated 470 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 4.4 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.77 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Columbia, MO?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Columbia, MO run from $28,600 at the 10th percentile to $28,600 at the 25th, $35,160 at the 75th, and $38,090 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Columbia, MO?

On a median gross salary of $29,710, an estimated $25,588 lands in net take-home pay per year ($984 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Missouri in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,122 (an effective rate of 13.9%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Columbia, MO?

On the median annual salary of $29,710, gross monthly income is $2,476. After federal, FICA, and Missouri state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,132 per month (or $984 every two weeks).

Is $29,710 a good salary in Columbia, MO?

At $29,710, the median salary for food preparation workers is 41.1% of the Columbia, MO median household income ($72,340). It is 37% below the $47,260 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 89.4, so prices here run 10.6% below the U.S. average.