Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Sioux Falls, SD-MN
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area earn a median of $50,150 a year ($24.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 120 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,060 for the top 10%. That is 20% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 3% higher than the South Dakota statewide median of $48,470. There are 0.65 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.50). The average (mean) salary is $48,710, close to the median.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Sioux Falls, SD-MN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| 25th percentile | $46,410 | $22.31 |
| Median | $50,150 | $24.11 |
| 75th percentile | $53,530 | $25.74 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,060 | $27.43 |
| Average (mean) | $48,710 | $23.42 |
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 | $4,179.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,089.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,928.85 |
| Weekly | $964.42 |
| Hourly | $24.11 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 City, IA-NE-SD | $49,590 | 70 |
| Rapid City, SD | $48,350 | 60 |
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 South Dakota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Sioux Falls, SD-MN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $42,420 | $20.39 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,830 | $14.34 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,920 | $14.38 |
| Bartender | $30,180 | $14.51 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,150 | $14.50 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,360 | $14.60 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $32,970 | $15.85 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,310 | $17.94 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,570 | $17.10 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,240 | $17.91 |
| Dishwasher | $29,540 | $14.20 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,650 | $14.74 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,150 | $15.94 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Sioux Falls, SD-MN
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 Sioux Falls, SD-MN?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area is $50,150 a year, or $24.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Sioux Falls, SD-MN?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area earn at least $57,060 a year. The top 25% earn $53,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Sioux Falls, SD-MN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,690 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $46,410 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Sioux Falls, SD-MN?
About 120 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area, not counting the self-employed.