Cooks, Restaurant salary in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
Cooks, Restaurant in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn a median of $39,640 a year ($19.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 17,760 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,160 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 3% higher than the Minnesota statewide median of $38,590. There are 9.1 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $41,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,310 | $16.98 |
| 25th percentile | $37,110 | $17.84 |
| Median | $39,640 | $19.06 |
| 75th percentile | $46,440 | $22.33 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,160 | $23.15 |
| Average (mean) | $41,850 | $20.12 |
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 | $3,303.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,651.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,524.62 |
| Weekly | $762.31 |
| Hourly | $19.06 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $39,640 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, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | $38,440 | 3,190 |
| Rochester, MN | $38,150 | 1,060 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $37,310 | 690 |
| Mankato, MN | $37,190 | 510 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $37,180 | 7,220 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $37,020 | 1,560 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $36,800 | 560 |
| Green Bay, WI | $36,760 | 1,620 |
| Kenosha, WI | $36,730 | 640 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $36,680 | 1,460 |
| Appleton, WI | $36,520 | 1,060 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $36,500 | 700 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $36,270 | 780 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $36,260 | 860 |
| Wausau, WI | $36,180 | 530 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $35,920 | 640 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $35,800 | 600 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $35,780 | 790 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $35,720 | 320 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $35,360 | 450 |
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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,100 | $16.87 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,830 | $21.55 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $36,380 | $17.49 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Cooks, All Other | $38,210 | $18.37 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,040 | $15.89 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $25,920 | $12.46 |
| Bartender | $27,600 | $13.27 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,110 | $22.17 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,420 | $17.51 |
| Dishwasher | $34,940 | $16.80 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,600 | $14.71 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,380 | $14.13 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,240 | $30.40 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area is $39,640 a year, or $19.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,160 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn at least $48,160 a year. The top 25% earn $46,440 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,310 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $37,110 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
About 17,760 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.