Cooks, Fast Food salary in Rochester, MN
Cooks, Fast Food in the Rochester, MN metro area earn a median of $33,090 a year ($15.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 170 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,160 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 3% lower than the Minnesota statewide median of $34,120. There are 1.4 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.33). The average (mean) salary is $32,510, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Rochester, MN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,180 | $12.59 |
| 25th percentile | $29,620 | $14.24 |
| Median | $33,090 | $15.91 |
| 75th percentile | $35,320 | $16.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,160 | $17.87 |
| Average (mean) | $32,510 | $15.63 |
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 | $2,757.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,378.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,272.69 |
| Weekly | $636.35 |
| Hourly | $15.91 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $33,090 salary, see how much house you can afford in Minnesota at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $36,380 | 3,550 |
| 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 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the Minnesota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Rochester, MN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,150 | $18.34 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,470 | $17.05 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $43,160 | $20.75 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,320 | $14.58 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,190 | $14.99 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $24,060 | $11.57 |
| Bartender | $27,000 | $12.98 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,620 | $21.45 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,630 | $17.13 |
| Dishwasher | $32,790 | $15.76 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,120 | $14.00 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,270 | $13.59 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,520 | $30.06 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Rochester, MN
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 Rochester, MN?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Rochester, MN metro area is $33,090 a year, or $15.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,160 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Rochester, MN?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Rochester, MN metro area earn at least $37,160 a year. The top 25% earn $35,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Rochester, MN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,180 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $29,620 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Rochester, MN?
About 170 cooks, fast food are employed in the Rochester, MN metro area, not counting the self-employed.