Cooks, Restaurant salary in Mankato, MN
Cooks, Restaurant in the Mankato, MN metro area earn a median of $37,190 a year ($17.88 an hour), based on BLS data for 510 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,060 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 4% lower than the Minnesota statewide median of $38,590. There are 9.0 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $37,700, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Mankato, MN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,130 | $14.48 |
| 25th percentile | $35,080 | $16.86 |
| Median | $37,190 | $17.88 |
| 75th percentile | $42,840 | $20.59 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,060 | $21.67 |
| Average (mean) | $37,700 | $18.13 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $3,099.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,549.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,430.38 |
| Weekly | $715.19 |
| Hourly | $17.88 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $39,640 | 17,760 |
| Rochester, MN | $38,150 | 1,060 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $37,310 | 690 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $37,020 | 1,560 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $36,800 | 560 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $36,680 | 1,460 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $36,270 | 780 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $36,260 | 860 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Minnesota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Mankato, MN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,440 | $16.08 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $40,410 | $19.43 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $30,000 | $14.42 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $23,330 | $11.22 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,300 | $20.82 |
| Bartender | $24,710 | $11.88 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,760 | $16.71 |
| Dishwasher | $30,690 | $14.75 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,730 | $13.81 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $60,050 | $28.87 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Mankato, MN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2014. 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, restaurant make in Mankato, MN?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Mankato, MN metro area is $37,190 a year, or $17.88 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Mankato, MN?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Mankato, MN metro area earn at least $45,060 a year. The top 25% earn $42,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Mankato, MN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,130 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $35,080 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Mankato, MN?
About 510 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Mankato, MN metro area, not counting the self-employed.