Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Rochester, MN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Rochester, MN

Median annual salary $59,390 -2.6% vs national
Median hourly $28.55
10th percentile $46,430
90th percentile $95,200
Employed locally 80
National median $60,990

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Chefs and Head Cooks
in
Rochester, MN
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $46,430
    25th
    $46,430
    50th (median)
    $59,390
    75th
    $80,660
    90th
    $95,200

    Rochester economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $89,675 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 66% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 34% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $61,780
    La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN $59,860
    Fargo, ND-MN $59,430
    Duluth, MN-WI $50,510
    Mankato, MN $49,310
    Sioux Falls, SD-MN $47,420

    Related occupations in Rochester, MN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $30,720
    Waiters and Waitresses $23,580
    Cooks, Restaurant $37,920
    Bartenders $25,890
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $45,780
    Food Preparation Workers $35,380

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Rochester?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Rochester, MN is $28.55, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $47.48 or more per hour.

    Is Rochester above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Rochester, MN is 2.6% below the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Rochester?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $46,430 per year in Rochester, MN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $46,430.