St. Louis, MO-IL · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Food Preparation Worker Salary in St. Louis, MO-IL

In the St. Louis, MO-IL metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median annual wage of $33,200 ($15.96/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $29,700/year and the 90th was $42,800/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Illinois tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $27,358 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 95.1 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$33,200$15.96 per hour · $2,767 monthly
10th Percentile$29,700$14.28/hr base
25th Percentile$29,700$14.28/hr base
75th Percentile$36,000$17.31/hr base
90th Percentile$42,800$20.58/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

$33,200
$15,000$70,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$33,200
Net 82%
Fed 5%
IL 5%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$27,358After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,280Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,052Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate17.6%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,804 / yr
Illinois state income tax$1,499 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,540 / yr

Food Preparation Workers Wage Percentiles in St. Louis, MO-IL

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. Louis, MO-IL Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (IL)
10th Percentile$14.28/hr$2,475$29,700$24,719
25th Percentile$14.28/hr$2,475$29,700$24,719
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$15.96/hr$2,767$33,200$27,358
75th Percentile$17.31/hr$3,000$36,000$29,469
90th Percentile$20.58/hr$3,567$42,800$34,596

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in St. Louis, MO-IL

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$33,200 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$80,196Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index95.14.9% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio41.4%of area median income

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Preparation Workers Pay in St. Louis, MO-IL

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

The official BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in St. Louis, MO-IL is $33,200, which equates to approximately $2,767 per month or $15.96 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

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

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in St. Louis, MO-IL is $15.96 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $14.28/hour and one in ten earned more than $20.58/hour.

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

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in St. Louis, MO-IL span from $29,700 at the 10th percentile to $29,700 at the 25th, $36,000 at the 75th, and $42,800 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

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

On a median gross salary of $33,200, an estimated $27,358 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,052 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Illinois in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,842 (an effective rate of 17.6%).

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

On the median annual salary of $33,200, gross monthly income is $2,767. After federal, FICA, and Illinois state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,280 per month (or $1,052 every two weeks).

Is $33,200 a good salary in St. Louis, MO-IL?

At $33,200, the median salary for food preparation workers is 41.4% of the St. Louis, MO-IL median household income ($80,196). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 95.1, making regional consumer goods and services 4.9% cheaper than the U.S. average.