LocalSalaryHub Salary Report
Food Preparation Workers in Joplin, MO · Generated June 13, 2026
Food Preparation Workers Salary in Joplin, MO $29,010/yr
$29,010
Mean: $32,860
~$22,628 est. take-home
$13.95
Based on 2,080 hrs/yr
100
100 = national avg
Difficult
Affordability score: 0/100
-$450/mo
-22%
Salary Distribution
Where the median falls between the 25th and 75th percentile.
25th %
$28,600
Median
$29,010
75th %
$35,030
Median is in the 6th percentile of the typical range
Food Preparation Workers in other MO cities
Compare the same occupation across cities in MO.
About Food Preparation Workers salaries in Joplin, MO
Food Preparation Workers in Joplin, MO earn a median of $29,010 per year, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. The mean salary is $32,860, which tends to skew higher because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Most food preparation workers in this area earn between $28,600 and $35,030. Where you land depends on experience, employer type, and whether you have in-demand specializations.
That works out to roughly $13.95 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year. Actual hourly pay may differ for part-time or contract roles.
Career Outlook
This occupation is tracking close to the national average for job growth. Openings come from a mix of new positions and people retiring or changing careers, with regional variation depending on local industry mix.
Worth knowing: Staying current with industry certifications and picking up adjacent skills (data literacy, project management, or automation tools) is the most reliable way to earn above median in this field.
Food Preparation Workers Jobs in Joplin, MO
Median: $29,010/yr — browse openings that fit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a food preparation workers in Joplin?▾
The median — where half earn more and half earn less — is $29,010. The average (mean) is $32,860, which is higher because top earners pull it up.
How much does a food preparation workers make per hour in Joplin?▾
About $13.95/hour, based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. Part-time or overtime hours will change the actual rate.
What is the salary range for food preparation workers in Joplin?▾
The middle 50% earn between $28,600 and $35,030. Below $28,600 is typically entry-level; above $35,030 usually means significant experience or specialized skills.
Salary Conversion Table
How does $29,010 per year break down across different time periods?
| Period | Gross | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly | $29,010 | $22,628 |
| Monthly | $2,418 | $1,886 |
| Biweekly | $1,116 | $870 |
| Weekly | $558 | $435 |
| Hourly (40h/wk) | $13.95 | $10.88 |
| Hourly (35h/wk) | $15.94 | $12.43 |
| Hourly (30h/wk) | $18.6 | $14.51 |
| Daily (8h) | $112 | $87 |
Take-home estimates use an effective tax rate of 22%. Actual amounts vary by filing status, deductions, and state tax.
Food Preparation Workers: Highest-Paying Cities in the U.S.
Top 10 cities nationwide for food preparation workers, based on BLS median salary data.
Related Occupations in Joplin
Similar roles in the same field, ranked by national average salary.
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See more salary data
More pages tied to this occupation and region.
- Food Preparation Workers salaries nationwide — the national median and the highest-paying metros for food preparation workers across all states.
- All MO salary data — every occupation we cover in MO, ranked by median pay, plus the cities that pay the most.
- Food Preparation Workers in Kahului, HI — the top-paying city for food preparation workers in our dataset, in case you are weighing a move out of Joplin.
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers salary overview — a closely related role (same SOC major group) with a national median of $40,976.