Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Southwest Minnesota

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

Median annual salary $35,580 -3.4% vs national
Median hourly $17.11
10th percentile $25,600
90th percentile $45,030
Employed locally 930
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $25,600
    25th
    $30,320
    50th (median)
    $35,580
    75th
    $38,480
    90th
    $45,030

    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 Southwest Minnesota

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $29,680
    Waiters and Waitresses $23,170
    Bartenders $26,140
    Food Preparation Workers $29,900
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $42,690
    Food Servers, Nonrestaurant $34,900

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Southwest Minnesota is $17.11, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.18 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Southwest Minnesota is 3.4% 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 Southwest Minnesota?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $25,600 per year in Southwest Minnesota. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $30,320.