--- title: "Cook Jobs in Columbia, MO | Metaintro" canonical: "https://www.metaintro.com/jobs/cook/locations/columbia-mo" language: "en" author: "Metaintro" data_as_of: "2026-11-05T04:40:12.328Z" cite_as: "Metaintro job-market data. https://www.metaintro.com/jobs/cook/locations/columbia-mo" data: ["https://www.metaintro.com/jobs/cook/locations/columbia-mo/data.json"] --- Cook market brief · Columbia, MO # Cook Jobs in Columbia, MO 61 cook openings are live in the Columbia, MO area from 32 employers, led by First Watch, Grand Plains Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, and Olive Garden. The middle half of posted salaries runs $30,420–$37,440 a year (median $32,240), from the 49% of listings that disclose pay. Data updated Nov 5, 2026 [Search live jobs](/jobs/search?q=Cook+jobs+in+Columbia%2C+MO)[Browse all Cook markets](/jobs/cook) ## Role and market snapshot A quick read on demand before you open the live listings **Tracked jobs** : 61 : Live cook openings currently tracked in the Columbia market. **Companies hiring** : 32 : Distinct employers represented in this publishable market view. **Median compensation** : $32,240 : 49% of listings provide usable compensation data. ## Market analysis Role-specific demand, level, employer, and compensation signals for this local market Start with the level mix, then compare current demand, compensation coverage, and employer concentration before opening the live listings. Level mix ### Career ladder [Entry-level](/jobs/cook/locations/columbia-mo/entry-level)12 jobs Mid-level1 jobs Lead+1 jobs Level coverage is 23%. Counts remain visible, but fit guidance stays withheld until at least 60% of listings have a reliable level signal. 30-day window ### Demand and salary Current jobs 61 Hiring employers 32 Salary coverage 49% Median experience 1.0 years Within this market ### Employer tier lens Startups & growing teams 31 15 companies · $31,200 median Established employers 10 6 companies Top of market 10 4 companies Coverage-gated ### Salary distribution P25 $30,420 P50 $32,240 P75 $37,440 P90 $42,848 Salary figures use annualized USD posted minimum compensation from listings in this market. An employer that posts the same pay on many listings counts once, and figures render only when enough distinct employers disclose pay. Use Metaintro ### Turn this market signal into momentum Move from aggregate demand to the live roles hiring in this market now. - Open live cook listings in Columbia - Compare the level mix before narrowing your search - Use employer and compensation signals to prioritize outreach [Search live jobs](/jobs/search?q=Cook+jobs+in+Columbia%2C+MO)[Get started free](/signup) ## Turn this market brief into a live search. Use the signal The best next step is opening the roles behind the aggregate: compare cook opportunities in Columbia, save the strongest fits, and keep the market signal close while you apply. - 61 live roles tracked in this market. - 32 employers represented in the current window. - Market data refreshed Nov 5, 2026. [Search live jobs](/jobs/search?q=Cook+jobs+in+Columbia%2C+MO)[Compare other markets](/jobs/cook) ## A practical market plan for Cook in Columbia Use this sequence to move from aggregate labor-market data to a focused application list. 1. 01Read the demand 61 cook openings across 32 employers establish the current Columbia opportunity set. 2. 02Choose the right rung Use the live listings to calibrate title, scope, and experience expectations before applying. 3. 03Prioritize employers First Watch is one of the most active visible employers, with 4 current openings in this market view. 4. 04Open the live roles 24 representative openings connect this brief to jobs you can review now. With Metaintro Keep market research, live opportunities, saved roles, and the evidence behind your applications moving in one focused loop. ## Where this market is hiring Move from the Columbia market view into active employers and representative cook openings Employer activity · 32 companies ### Who is hiring in this market The most active visible employers, ordered by openings represented in the current market sample. [![First Watch logo](/api/company-logo?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffirstwatch.com%2Fapple-touch-icon.png&sig=FHzQfjRFVEErUdSwYJROtmYbjfOAIlDG_AdOzfFoiv0) First WatchTop of market4Open roles](/company/first-watch) Grand Plains Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation CenterStartups & growing teams4Open roles [![Olive Garden logo](/api/favicon-proxy?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.olivegarden.com%2Fimages%2Fsite%2FOGlogo_updated.svg) Olive GardenTop of market4Open roles](/company/olive-garden)[![Sodexo logo](/api/company-logo?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsodexo.com%2Ffavicon.ico&sig=M-H5_huix03wKhTNVsN-EWucZh2AyqouqEOCrAleNpU) SodexoStartups & growing teams4Open roles](/company/sodexo) Applebee's | Apple Central LLCStartups & growing teams3Open roles [![Columbia logo](/api/company-logo?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.columbia.com%2Fon%2Fdemandware.static%2FSites-Columbia_US-Site%2F-%2Fdefault%2Fimages%2Ficon.svg&sig=ZXyu2A5QBHm1KF4N--y8iZongsjg4nkq8lYpIGIUEaw) ColumbiaEstablished employers3Open roles](/company/columbia) Freddy's Frozen Custard & SteakburgersStartups & growing teams3Open roles Umstattd Sonic GroupEmployer profile3Open roles Live opportunity sample · 24 of 61 matches ### Representative openings Open a role to inspect the full requirements. Compensation appears only when the listing provides usable salary data. [CookLive roleFirst WatchColumbia, MissouriPosted Nov 2, 2026](/job/cook-at-first-watch-74ef1b5a-72b0-5640-92f1-df5427edfcbe)[Head ChefEntry-levelUpper Crust Food ServiceColumbia, MissouriPosted Oct 30, 2026](/job/head-chef-at-upper-crust-food-service-4e43c4ff-6f4c-5ab8-aa2a-5b838ec05f30)[Lead CookLead+Elior North AmericaColumbia, Missouri$37,440Posted Oct 30, 2026](/job/lead-cook-at-elior-north-america-ef8230fe-1f47-5a33-903f-083947b2bed7)[CookLive roleFirst WatchColumbia, MissouriPosted Oct 30, 2026](/job/cook-at-first-watch-072bbc26-a6bc-5134-a57a-7aa58d8202c4)[Dietary CookLive roleGrand Plains Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation CenterColumbia, Missouri$33,280Posted Oct 30, 2026](/job/dietary-cook-at-grand-plains-skilled-nursing-and-rehabilitation-center-37cab009-fd4a-5610-93dd-6fc4154813eb)[Residential Cook - Full TimeEntry-levelKVC KansasColumbia, Missouri$31,200Posted Oct 29, 2026](/job/residential-cook-full-time-at-kvc-kansas-8b393738-1d55-5073-b4a2-bb4ec872b843)[CookLive roleVeterans Health AdministrationColumbia, Missouri$45,760Posted Oct 29, 2026](/job/cook-at-veterans-health-administration-6577fc44-496c-5cd1-bb93-2e97cdf66fb6)[Dietary CookLive roleGrand Plains Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation CenterColumbia, Missouri$33,280Posted Oct 28, 2026](/job/dietary-cook-at-grand-plains-skilled-nursing-and-rehabilitation-center-65abd1e3-2693-5f56-a6de-a7a4b80c0d9f) #### More cook openings in Columbia - [Cook · Sodexo](/job/cook-at-sodexo-53a1b354-1863-5c30-bbc9-0d3b4f02b78e) - [Market Grille Cook · Hy-Vee](/job/market-grille-cook-at-hy-vee-ae4e71f3-36dc-589b-868d-35a5ccaad936) - [Cook-FT Days & Evening Shift · Stonebridge Maryland Heights](/job/cook-ft-days-and-evening-shift-at-stonebridge-maryland-heights-f925ea2f-d1bd-5bcf-b886-2019b5adabc8) - [VCS Cook- Columbia MO · Veterans Health Administration](/job/vcs-cook-columbia-mo-at-veterans-health-administration-1691d199-0dea-54eb-9b97-21d358cacb7c) - [Cook · Sodexo](/job/cook-at-sodexo-528b4d1c-15c4-505a-a970-813341b48725) - [Lead Cook · The Salvation Army Central Territory](/job/lead-cook-at-the-salvation-army-central-territory-9949b8eb-de82-5dbe-96c8-7a49ff3e1980) - [Executive Chef · Upper Crust Food Service](/job/executive-chef-at-upper-crust-food-service-b9521583-c034-5d62-ad00-c5a7799066ff) - [Grill Cook · Bob Evans Restaurants](/job/grill-cook-at-bob-evans-restaurants-ab5a8a25-ad47-562d-9de9-2aad214c6680) - [Cook - Lenoir Woods - FT Day/Evening · lssliving](/job/cook-lenoir-woods-ft-day-evening-at-lssliving-ab54231c-8ed1-5319-a7ec-47ecbc0698ba) - [Cook · Umstattd Sonic Group](/job/cook-at-umstattd-sonic-group-7429ff6a-5d94-5a23-b9e5-d942d59fca12) - [Cook · Umstattd Sonic Group](/job/cook-at-umstattd-sonic-group-194e3242-066c-5ff9-8b9e-117eaf2b1272) - [Cook · Umstattd Sonic Group](/job/cook-at-umstattd-sonic-group-4d212f30-409c-5965-ad19-4c42cdbb6850) - [Cook · Applebee's | Apple Central LLC](/job/cook-at-applebees-apple-central-llc-2aae3177-0e5e-5811-90f0-26de45a343f0) - [Cook · Applebee's | Apple Central LLC](/job/cook-at-applebees-apple-central-llc-b43a8d16-ea24-55e4-aafc-0814bc26aeca) - [Cook · Applebee's | Apple Central LLC](/job/cook-at-applebees-apple-central-llc-22d538d4-7084-5943-9398-6b641d310763) - [Line Cook · Olive Garden](/job/line-cook-at-olive-garden-aa1a8e3f-a30e-536c-9d99-4d1367953195) [Explore all 61 matching jobs](/jobs/search?q=Cook+jobs+in+Columbia%2C+MO) ## Cook jobs in Columbia: what applicants need to know Current answers for a difficult AI-era job search, grounded in this publishable role and location market view rather than generic career advice. 1. 01### How many cook jobs are open in Columbia? Metaintro tracks 61 live cook openings from 32 employers in the Columbia, MO area over the last 30 days. 2. 02### What do cook jobs in Columbia pay? The median posted salary is $32,240 a year. The middle half of posted salaries runs $30,420 to $37,440. Based on the 49% of current listings that disclose pay. 3. 03### Which companies are hiring for cook jobs in Columbia? First Watch, Grand Plains Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Olive Garden, and Sodexo have the most open cook roles here right now, out of 32 hiring employers. ## Continue with the next market signal Compare nearby cities, adjacent roles, and publishable level views without leaving the live jobs cluster Nearby cities Compare Cook demand around Columbia. [St. Louis, MO](/jobs/cook/locations/st-louis-mo)[Kansas City, MO](/jobs/cook/locations/kansas-city-mo)[Springfield, MO](/jobs/cook/locations/springfield-mo)[Saint Joseph, MO](/jobs/cook/locations/saint-joseph-mo)[Springfield, IL](/jobs/cook/locations/springfield-il)[Topeka, KS](/jobs/cook/locations/topeka-ks) Related roles See adjacent role demand in the Columbia market. [Server](/jobs/server/locations/columbia-mo)[Hospitality Manager](/jobs/hospitality-manager/locations/columbia-mo)[Barista](/jobs/barista/locations/columbia-mo)[All roles in Columbia](/jobs/locations/columbia-mo) Level views Narrow the market to experience levels with enough reliable data. [Entry-level Cook](/jobs/cook/locations/columbia-mo/entry-level) Built for career movement ## Turn the Columbia cook market into your next move. Use live demand, employer, level, and compensation signals to focus your cook search where the market is active now. [Search live jobs](/jobs/search?q=Cook+jobs+in+Columbia%2C+MO)[Get started free](/signup) - MatchCompare live roles against your current evidence. - PositionTurn proof projects into role-specific applications. - ImproveUse market feedback to keep the skill plan current. [Return to navigation](#main-navigation)