The median annual wage for Food Preparation Workers in Columbia, MO is $28,940 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $30,780.
Pay spans roughly $26,900 at the 10th percentile to $36,430 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $13.91 per hour. An estimated 530 people work as food preparation workers in Columbia, MO.
| Median (annual) | $28,940 |
| Mean (annual) | $30,780 |
| Median (hourly) | $13.91 |
| 10th percentile | $26,900 |
| 90th percentile | $36,430 |
| Employment | 530 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.