Cape Girardeau, MO-IL · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL

In the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $32,400 ($15.58/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $26,900/year and the 90th was $40,000/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Illinois tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $26,754 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 86.1 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$32,400$15.58 per hour · $2,700 monthly
10th Percentile$26,900$12.93/hr base
25th Percentile$30,400$14.62/hr base
75th Percentile$38,800$18.65/hr base
90th Percentile$40,000$19.23/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

$32,400
$15,000$65,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$32,400
Net 83%
Fed 5%
IL 5%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$26,754After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,230Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,029Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate17.4%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,708 / yr
Illinois state income tax$1,459 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,479 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Cape Girardeau, 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 Cooks, Restaurant in the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (IL)
10th Percentile$12.93/hr$2,242$26,900$22,575
25th Percentile$14.62/hr$2,533$30,400$25,246
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$15.58/hr$2,700$32,400$26,754
75th Percentile$18.65/hr$3,233$38,800$31,580
90th Percentile$19.23/hr$3,333$40,000$32,485

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$32,400 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$66,759Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index86.113.9% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio48.5%of area median income

Compare restaurant cooks salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Illinois:

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL is $32,400, which equates to approximately $2,700 per month or $15.58 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL is $15.58 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $12.93/hour and one in ten earned more than $19.23/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL span from $26,900 at the 10th percentile to $30,400 at the 25th, $38,800 at the 75th, and $40,000 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL?

On a median gross salary of $32,400, an estimated $26,754 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,029 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Illinois in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,646 (an effective rate of 17.4%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL?

On the median annual salary of $32,400, gross monthly income is $2,700. After federal, FICA, and Illinois state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,230 per month (or $1,029 every two weeks).

Is $32,400 a good salary in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL?

At $32,400, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 48.5% of the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL median household income ($66,759). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 86.1, making regional consumer goods and services 13.9% cheaper than the U.S. average.