Cooks, Restaurant salary in Minnesota
Cooks, Restaurant in Minnesota earn a median of $38,590 a year ($18.55 an hour), based on BLS data for 26,080 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,850 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $37,390. Minnesota ranks 16th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 8.8 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $40,210, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Minnesota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,280 | $15.04 |
| 25th percentile | $36,020 | $17.32 |
| Median | $38,590 | $18.55 |
| 75th percentile | $45,360 | $21.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,850 | $23.01 |
| Average (mean) | $40,210 | $19.33 |
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 | $3,215.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,607.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,484.23 |
| Weekly | $742.12 |
| Hourly | $18.55 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in cities in Minnesota
| 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 |
| Mankato, MN | $37,190 | 510 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Minnesota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,850 | $16.76 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $43,460 | $20.90 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $34,120 | $16.41 |
| 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 35-2014. 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 Minnesota?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Minnesota is $38,590 a year, or $18.55 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,850 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Minnesota?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Minnesota earn at least $47,850 a year. The top 25% earn $45,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Minnesota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,280 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $36,020 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Minnesota?
About 26,080 cooks, restaurant are employed in Minnesota, not counting the self-employed.