Cooks, Restaurant Salary in St. Cloud, MN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • St. Cloud, MN

Median annual salary $36,180 -1.8% vs national
Median hourly $17.39
10th percentile $27,110
90th percentile $44,870
Employed locally 840
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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St. Cloud, MN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $27,110
    25th
    $31,390
    50th (median)
    $36,180
    75th
    $41,660
    90th
    $44,870

    St. Cloud economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $75,670 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 48% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 52% 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
    Rochester, MN $37,920
    Mankato, MN $36,670
    Fargo, ND-MN $36,540
    La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN $36,510
    Sioux Falls, SD-MN $36,300

    Related occupations in St. Cloud, MN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $30,120
    Waiters and Waitresses $22,990
    Food Preparation Workers $31,740
    Bartenders $24,390
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $43,840
    Food Servers, Nonrestaurant $34,020

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in St. Cloud?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in St. Cloud, MN is $17.39, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.64 or more per hour.

    Is St. Cloud above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in St. Cloud, MN is 1.8% 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 St. Cloud?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $27,110 per year in St. Cloud, MN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $31,390.