Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Duluth, MN-WI
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Duluth, MN-WI metro area earn a median of $56,790 a year ($27.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,450 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 9% lower than the Minnesota statewide median of $62,600. There are 0.77 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.60). The average (mean) salary is $61,210, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Duluth, MN-WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,570 | $22.39 |
| 25th percentile | $48,140 | $23.14 |
| Median | $56,790 | $27.30 |
| 75th percentile | $72,090 | $34.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $86,450 | $41.56 |
| Average (mean) | $61,210 | $29.43 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,732.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,366.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,184.23 |
| Weekly | $1,092.12 |
| Hourly | $27.30 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Wausau, WI | $65,910 | 30 |
| Madison, WI | $64,300 | 270 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $63,430 | 40 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $63,240 | 1,280 |
| Rochester, MN | $62,520 | 90 |
| Appleton, WI | $62,200 | 90 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $61,580 | 570 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $60,890 | 40 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $60,500 | 40 |
| Mankato, MN | $60,050 | 30 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $59,640 | 40 |
| Kenosha, WI | $59,530 | 50 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $59,390 | 50 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $59,240 | 60 |
| Green Bay, WI | $58,480 | 100 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $58,300 | 60 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $54,390 | 40 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $50,150 | 120 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the Minnesota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Duluth, MN-WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $42,860 | $20.61 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,260 | $14.07 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $23,150 | $11.13 |
| Bartender | $23,540 | $11.32 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,680 | $17.64 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,010 | $16.35 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,880 | $17.25 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $40,300 | $19.37 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,900 | $12.93 |
| Dishwasher | $30,220 | $14.53 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,000 | $12.98 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,790 | $14.80 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,960 | $14.40 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Duluth, MN-WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Duluth, MN-WI?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Duluth, MN-WI metro area is $56,790 a year, or $27.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,450 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Duluth, MN-WI?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Duluth, MN-WI metro area earn at least $86,450 a year. The top 25% earn $72,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Duluth, MN-WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,570 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $48,140 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Duluth, MN-WI?
About 100 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Duluth, MN-WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.