Cooks, Restaurant salary in Sioux Falls, SD-MN
Cooks, Restaurant in the Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area earn a median of $37,310 a year ($17.94 an hour), based on BLS data for 690 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,130 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 3% higher than the South Dakota statewide median of $36,220. There are 3.8 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.42). The average (mean) salary is $38,030, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Sioux Falls, SD-MN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,220 | $14.53 |
| 25th percentile | $34,870 | $16.76 |
| Median | $37,310 | $17.94 |
| 75th percentile | $39,190 | $18.84 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,130 | $22.18 |
| Average (mean) | $38,030 | $18.29 |
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 | $3,109.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,554.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,435 |
| Weekly | $717.50 |
| Hourly | $17.94 |
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 |
| 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 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $36,270 | 560 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $36,260 | 860 |
| Rapid City, SD | $35,910 | 390 |
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 South Dakota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Sioux Falls, SD-MN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,360 | $14.60 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $32,970 | $15.85 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,570 | $17.10 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,240 | $17.91 |
| 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 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $42,420 | $20.39 |
| Dishwasher | $29,540 | $14.20 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,650 | $14.74 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $50,150 | $24.11 |
| 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 35-2014. 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 Sioux Falls, SD-MN?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area is $37,310 a year, or $17.94 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Sioux Falls, SD-MN?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area earn at least $46,130 a year. The top 25% earn $39,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Sioux Falls, SD-MN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,220 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $34,870 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Sioux Falls, SD-MN?
About 690 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area, not counting the self-employed.