What does a Cooks, Fast Food salary really buy you in Missouri?
Missouri is 8.9% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Missouri's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.1, meaning prices are 8.9% lower the national average. A Cooks, Fast Food earning $29,450 in Missouri has the equivalent purchasing power of $32,327 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Missouri's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $26,980 | $29,615 | +$2,635 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $27,940 | $30,669 | +$2,729 |
| Median (P50) | $29,450 | $32,327 | +$2,877 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $30,490 | $33,468 | +$2,978 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $35,420 | $38,880 | +$3,460 |
A Cooks, Fast Food in Missouri earns $29,450 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 10% further — like earning $32,327 in an average-cost state. This makes Missouri one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Cooks, Fast Food salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Missouri ranks #18 out of 50 states for Cooks, Fast Food after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Cooks, Fast Food in Missouri earns a median salary of $29,450 per year. After adjusting for Missouri's cost of living (RPP=91.1), the real purchasing power is $32,327 — a +9.8% difference.
Missouri's cost of living is 8.9% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Missouri is 91.1 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Cooks, Fast Food in Missouri: $29,450 x (100 / 91.1) = $32,327. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Cooks, Fast Food in Missouri enjoys 9.8% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.