Food Preparation Worker salary in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
Food Preparation Workers in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn a median of $35,100 a year ($16.87 an hour), based on BLS data for 16,810 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,690 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 1% higher than the Minnesota statewide median of $34,850. There are 8.6 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $36,390, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,250 | $14.54 |
| 25th percentile | $30,710 | $14.77 |
| Median | $35,100 | $16.87 |
| 75th percentile | $38,790 | $18.65 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,690 | $22.45 |
| Average (mean) | $36,390 | $17.50 |
Half of food preparation workers 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 | $2,925 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,462.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,350 |
| Weekly | $675 |
| Hourly | $16.87 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $35,100 salary, see how much house you can afford in Minnesota at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Preparation Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | $36,940 | 2,330 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $36,590 | 550 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $35,650 | 270 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $35,470 | 4,500 |
| Rochester, MN | $35,470 | 790 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $34,900 | 660 |
| Kenosha, WI | $34,840 | 490 |
| Appleton, WI | $34,060 | 650 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $34,010 | 1,050 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $33,680 | 580 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $33,540 | 890 |
| Mankato, MN | $33,440 | 390 |
| Green Bay, WI | $32,720 | 1,260 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $32,340 | 500 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $32,150 | 490 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $31,720 | 320 |
| Wausau, WI | $31,720 | 440 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $30,810 | 370 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $30,460 | 500 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $30,360 | 1,170 |
Highest-paying states for food preparation workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| California | $39,350 |
| Colorado | $38,960 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 |
| Oregon | $37,450 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 |
| Arizona | $36,750 |
See Food Preparation Worker pay in every state or the Minnesota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $39,640 | $19.06 |
| 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 35-2021. 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 food preparation worker make in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area is $35,100 a year, or $16.87 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,690 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn at least $46,690 a year. The top 25% earn $38,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,250 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $30,710 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
About 16,810 food preparation workers are employed in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.