Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Rochester, MN

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

Median annual salary $37,920 +3% vs national
Median hourly $18.23
10th percentile $30,590
90th percentile $46,030
Employed locally 1,130
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
in
Rochester, MN
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $30,590
    25th
    $36,320
    50th (median)
    $37,920
    75th
    $43,630
    90th
    $46,030

    Rochester economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $89,675 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 42% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 58% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $39,710
    Mankato, MN $36,670
    Fargo, ND-MN $36,540
    La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN $36,510
    Sioux Falls, SD-MN $36,300
    Duluth, MN-WI $36,190

    Related occupations in Rochester, MN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $30,720
    Waiters and Waitresses $23,580
    Bartenders $25,890
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $45,780
    Food Preparation Workers $35,380
    Food Servers, Nonrestaurant $35,750

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Rochester?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Rochester, MN is $18.23, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.16 or more per hour.

    Is Rochester above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Rochester, MN is 3% above the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Restaurant in Rochester?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $30,590 per year in Rochester, MN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,320.