Cooks, Restaurant salary in South Dakota
Cooks, Restaurant in South Dakota earn a median of $36,220 a year ($17.42 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,890 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,990 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $37,390. South Dakota ranks 35th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 4.1 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.46). The average (mean) salary is $36,720, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in South Dakota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,140 | $14.49 |
| 25th percentile | $33,040 | $15.89 |
| Median | $36,220 | $17.42 |
| 75th percentile | $38,910 | $18.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,990 | $21.63 |
| Average (mean) | $36,720 | $17.66 |
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 | $3,018.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,509.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,393.08 |
| Weekly | $696.54 |
| Hourly | $17.42 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $36,220 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Dakota at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in cities in South Dakota
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $37,310 | 690 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $36,270 | 560 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in South Dakota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,430 | $14.63 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,730 | $17.66 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $32,380 | $15.57 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,950 | $14.88 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,490 | $14.18 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,990 | $13.94 |
| Bartender | $29,400 | $14.14 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $40,640 | $19.54 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,920 | $14.39 |
| Dishwasher | $28,190 | $13.56 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,310 | $14.57 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $48,470 | $23.30 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,980 | $15.38 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in South Dakota
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 South Dakota?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in South Dakota is $36,220 a year, or $17.42 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in South Dakota?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in South Dakota earn at least $44,990 a year. The top 25% earn $38,910 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in South Dakota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,140 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $33,040 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in South Dakota?
About 1,890 cooks, restaurant are employed in South Dakota, not counting the self-employed.