Joplin, MO-KS · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Food Preparation Worker Salary in Joplin, MO-KS

In the Joplin, MO-KS metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median annual wage of $28,800 ($13.85/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $21,800/year and the 90th was $37,300/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Kansas tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $24,487 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 85.7 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$28,800$13.85 per hour · $2,400 monthly
10th Percentile$21,800$10.48/hr base
25th Percentile$26,400$12.69/hr base
75th Percentile$33,600$16.15/hr base
90th Percentile$37,300$17.93/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

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

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$28,800
$15,000$60,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$28,800
Net 85%
Fed 4%
KS 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$24,487After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,041Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$942Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,276 / yr
Kansas state income tax$834 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,203 / yr

Food Preparation Workers Wage Percentiles in Joplin, MO-KS

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Food Preparation Workers in the Joplin, MO-KS Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (KS)
10th Percentile$10.48/hr$1,817$21,800$19,092
25th Percentile$12.69/hr$2,200$26,400$22,641
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$13.85/hr$2,400$28,800$24,487
75th Percentile$16.15/hr$2,800$33,600$28,094
90th Percentile$17.93/hr$3,108$37,300$30,869

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Joplin, MO-KS

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$28,800 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$61,901Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index85.714.3% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio46.5%of area median income

Compare food preparation workers salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Kansas:

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Preparation Workers Pay in Joplin, MO-KS

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Joplin, MO-KS?

The official BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in Joplin, MO-KS is $28,800, which equates to approximately $2,400 per month or $13.85 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Joplin, MO-KS?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Joplin, MO-KS is $13.85 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $10.48/hour and one in ten earned more than $17.93/hour.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Joplin, MO-KS?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Joplin, MO-KS span from $21,800 at the 10th percentile to $26,400 at the 25th, $33,600 at the 75th, and $37,300 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Joplin, MO-KS?

On a median gross salary of $28,800, an estimated $24,487 lands in net take-home pay per year ($942 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Kansas in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,313 (an effective rate of 15%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Joplin, MO-KS?

On the median annual salary of $28,800, gross monthly income is $2,400. After federal, FICA, and Kansas state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,041 per month (or $942 every two weeks).

Is $28,800 a good salary in Joplin, MO-KS?

At $28,800, the median salary for food preparation workers is 46.5% of the Joplin, MO-KS median household income ($61,901). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 85.7, making regional consumer goods and services 14.3% cheaper than the U.S. average.