Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Minnesota
Chefs and Head Cooks in Minnesota earn a median of $62,600 a year ($30.10 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,730 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,890 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $62,470. Minnesota ranks 22nd of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay. There are 0.58 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.45). The average (mean) salary is $66,910, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Minnesota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,400 | $23.27 |
| 25th percentile | $53,050 | $25.51 |
| Median | $62,600 | $30.10 |
| 75th percentile | $75,960 | $36.52 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,890 | $46.10 |
| Average (mean) | $66,910 | $32.17 |
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 | $5,216.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,608.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,407.69 |
| Weekly | $1,203.85 |
| Hourly | $30.10 |
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 cities in Minnesota
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $63,240 | 1,280 |
| Rochester, MN | $62,520 | 90 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $60,500 | 40 |
| Mankato, MN | $60,050 | 30 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $58,300 | 60 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $56,790 | 100 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Minnesota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,270 | $21.77 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,370 | $15.08 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $25,470 | $12.25 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,590 | $18.55 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,850 | $16.76 |
| Bartender | $26,900 | $12.93 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,000 | $17.31 |
| Dishwasher | $34,060 | $16.38 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $43,460 | $20.90 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,210 | $14.04 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,200 | $14.52 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $34,120 | $16.41 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Cooks, All Other | $36,850 | $17.72 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Minnesota
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 Minnesota?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in Minnesota is $62,600 a year, or $30.10 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,890 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Minnesota?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in Minnesota earn at least $95,890 a year. The top 25% earn $75,960 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Minnesota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,400 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $53,050 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Minnesota?
About 1,730 chefs and head cooks are employed in Minnesota, not counting the self-employed.