Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Southeast Minnesota

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

Median annual salary $35,770 -2.9% vs national
Median hourly $17.20
10th percentile $26,770
90th percentile $45,310
Employed locally 1,330
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $26,770
    25th
    $30,400
    50th (median)
    $35,770
    75th
    $38,120
    90th
    $45,310

    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

    Related occupations in Southeast Minnesota

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $29,640
    Waiters and Waitresses $23,160
    Food Preparation Workers $33,510
    Bartenders $26,630
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $41,750
    Food Servers, Nonrestaurant $34,380

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Southeast Minnesota?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Southeast Minnesota is $17.20, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.34 or more per hour.

    Is Southeast Minnesota above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Southeast Minnesota is 2.9% below 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 Southeast Minnesota?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $26,770 per year in Southeast Minnesota. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $30,400.