St. Joseph, MO-KS · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Food Preparation Worker Salary in St. Joseph, MO-KS

In the St. Joseph, MO-KS metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median annual wage of $29,000 ($13.94/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $21,900/year and the 90th was $37,600/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Kansas tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $24,637 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 86.4 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$29,000$13.94 per hour · $2,417 monthly
10th Percentile$21,900$10.53/hr base
25th Percentile$26,600$12.79/hr base
75th Percentile$33,800$16.25/hr base
90th Percentile$37,600$18.08/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

$29,000
$15,000$60,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$29,000
Net 85%
Fed 4%
KS 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$24,637After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,053Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$948Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,300 / yr
Kansas state income tax$844 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,219 / yr

Food Preparation Workers Wage Percentiles in St. Joseph, 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 St. Joseph, MO-KS Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (KS)
10th Percentile$10.53/hr$1,825$21,900$19,170
25th Percentile$12.79/hr$2,217$26,600$22,796
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$13.94/hr$2,417$29,000$24,637
75th Percentile$16.25/hr$2,817$33,800$28,244
90th Percentile$18.08/hr$3,133$37,600$31,093

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in St. Joseph, MO-KS

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$29,000 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$65,005Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index86.413.6% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio44.6%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 St. Joseph, MO-KS

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in St. Joseph, MO-KS?

The official BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in St. Joseph, MO-KS is $29,000, which equates to approximately $2,417 per month or $13.94 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in St. Joseph, MO-KS?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in St. Joseph, MO-KS is $13.94 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $10.53/hour and one in ten earned more than $18.08/hour.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in St. Joseph, MO-KS?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in St. Joseph, MO-KS span from $21,900 at the 10th percentile to $26,600 at the 25th, $33,800 at the 75th, and $37,600 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

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

On a median gross salary of $29,000, an estimated $24,637 lands in net take-home pay per year ($948 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Kansas in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,363 (an effective rate of 15%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in St. Joseph, MO-KS?

On the median annual salary of $29,000, gross monthly income is $2,417. After federal, FICA, and Kansas state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,053 per month (or $948 every two weeks).

Is $29,000 a good salary in St. Joseph, MO-KS?

At $29,000, the median salary for food preparation workers is 44.6% of the St. Joseph, MO-KS median household income ($65,005). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 86.4, making regional consumer goods and services 13.6% cheaper than the U.S. average.