Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Southwest Minnesota

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area

Median annual salary $44,360 -27.3% vs national
Median hourly $21.33
10th percentile $33,280
90th percentile $60,360
Employed locally 30
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Southwest Minnesota stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Chefs and Head Cooks
in
Southwest Minnesota
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $33,280
    25th
    $38,100
    50th (median)
    $44,360
    75th
    $48,330
    90th
    $60,360

    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

    Related occupations in Southwest Minnesota

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $29,680
    Waiters and Waitresses $23,170
    Bartenders $26,140
    Food Preparation Workers $29,900
    Cooks, Restaurant $35,580
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $42,690

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Southwest Minnesota is $21.33, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $29.02 or more per hour.

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

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Southwest Minnesota is 27.3% 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 Southwest Minnesota?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $33,280 per year in Southwest Minnesota. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $38,100.