Cooks, Fast Food salary in Minnesota
Cooks, Fast Food in Minnesota earn a median of $34,120 a year ($16.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,190 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,560 for the top 10%. That is 10% higher than the national median of $30,890. Minnesota ranks 15th of 51 states for cooks, fast food pay. There are 1.8 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.43). The average (mean) salary is $34,010, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Minnesota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,550 | $11.81 |
| 25th percentile | $29,890 | $14.37 |
| Median | $34,120 | $16.41 |
| 75th percentile | $38,630 | $18.57 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,560 | $19.02 |
| Average (mean) | $34,010 | $16.35 |
Half of cooks, fast food 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 | $2,843.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,421.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,312.31 |
| Weekly | $656.15 |
| Hourly | $16.41 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in cities in Minnesota
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $36,380 | 3,550 |
| Rochester, MN | $33,090 | 170 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $32,970 | 740 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $31,010 | 180 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $30,790 | 240 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $29,710 | 180 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $29,550 | 100 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $28,590 | 180 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
Related jobs in Minnesota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,590 | $18.55 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,850 | $16.76 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $43,460 | $20.90 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Cooks, All Other | $36,850 | $17.72 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,370 | $15.08 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $25,470 | $12.25 |
| Bartender | $26,900 | $12.93 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,270 | $21.77 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,000 | $17.31 |
| Dishwasher | $34,060 | $16.38 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,210 | $14.04 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,200 | $14.52 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,600 | $30.10 |
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 35-2011. 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 cooks, fast food make in Minnesota?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in Minnesota is $34,120 a year, or $16.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,560 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Minnesota?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in Minnesota earn at least $39,560 a year. The top 25% earn $38,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Minnesota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,550 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $29,890 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Minnesota?
About 5,190 cooks, fast food are employed in Minnesota, not counting the self-employed.