Cooks, Fast Food Employment & Job Outlook in Missouri (2024)

Missouri employs 44,280 Cooks, Fast Food professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • Missouri employment outlook • Updated 2026-04-06

Total Employed
44,280
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
44.28
workers
Location Quotient
3.35
vs national avg
Average Salary
$28K
annual

High Demand in Missouri

The location quotient (LQ) of 3.35 indicates that Missouri has a higher-than-average concentration of Cooks, Fast Food professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

Missouri vs National Average

Total Employed
44,280
National: 673,460
6.6% of national
Jobs per 1,000
44.28
National: 13.21
+235.2%
Average Salary
$28K
National: $29K
-3.2%

Top States by Cooks, Fast Food Employment

#1
164,680
164,680
employed
#2
94,450
94,450
employed
#3
44,280
44,280
employed
#4
26,540
26,540
employed
#5
23,480
23,480
employed
#6
23,090
23,090
employed
#7
21,070
21,070
employed
#8
20,800
20,800
employed
#9
20,690
20,690
employed
#10
19,240
19,240
employed

What Does a Cooks, Fast Food Earn in Missouri?

The average annual salary for a Cooks, Fast Food in Missouri is $28,820. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many Cooks, Fast Food jobs are there in Missouri?

Missouri employs approximately 44,280 Cooks, Fast Food professionals (2024 BLS data). This ranks Missouri among the top states nationwide.

Is Cooks, Fast Food in demand in Missouri?

Yes — Missouri has above-average concentration of Cooks, Fast Food jobs (LQ: 3.35). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Missouri?

The average (mean) salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Missouri is $28820/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Cooks, Fast Food professionals?

The top state for Cooks, Fast Food employment is California with 164,680 jobs.

Related Pages

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Cooks, Fast Food (SOC 352011) in Missouri.

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Rankings
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